Derby News Archives - Week 8, July 15th - 21st, 2007

328 Lb Halibut Takes 1st Place in Valdez Halibut Derby

Ron Rachow of Hager City, WI takes the lead in the Valdez Halibut Derby with his 328 pound halibut. Rachow hooked his catch aboard the Harvester, July 17th. “…… this is by far the biggest fish I’ve ever seen,” Rachow said laughing. His massive sized fish beats out David Bruno’s, the 2005 halibut derby winner, by 3 pounds. Rachow won the weekly first place prize and is in line to win the overall prize of $15,000 if no one beats his fish before September 2 at noon. “I hope it sticks,” Rachow says, “it seemed like hours of reeling it in, but it was only 15 minutes.” Matt Corning of Wilmington, MA, took the second place weekly prize with his 264.1 pound flat fish he reeled in aboard the Dawn Treader.

Ron Rachow’s fish knocked Bonnie Woods’s 274.5 pounder down to second place in the standings while Tiffany Williams of Slana still holds on with her 266 pound flat fish she hooked back in June aboard the No Excuses.

Silvers have been coming into Port Valdez as the Silver Salmon Derby is slated to begin this Saturday, July 28th and run through September 2nd at noon. The first Big Prize Friday is August 3rd and the person catching the largest silver salmon on that day will win an inflatable raft in addition to the daily prizes.

The Valdez Fish Derbies truck is on display by the Highway turnoff for Eagles Rest RV Park. Each ticket purchased for the Halibut or Silver Salmon Derbies is an entry to win the Valdez Fish Derbies truck. A Season ticket for either species gives the purchaser five entries for the drawing to be held at the Spawn ‘til Dawn Party Labor Day weekend. Anglers should keep their derby tickets as entry to the popular awards party is free with a derby ticket.

The weigh-in station for the Valdez Fish Derbies is open 3pm to 9pm. Derby tickets for both the salmon and halibut derbies are $10 each and are good for one day of fishing in the derby. A season ticket for either species is $50. For more information on the Valdez Halibut Derby or upcoming silver salmon and women’s derby, go to www.valdezfishderbies.com.

See more 2007 Valdez Fish Derby news here > > >