Derby News - 2008 Opening

Valdez Halibut Derby Kicks Off Memorial Weekend

The Valdez Halibut Derby starts this weekend and that means it’s time for speculation on what size flatfish will win the $15,000 first place prize. Last year, Jim Adams of North Pole took home the big money with the 340 pound halibut he caught in late July. Robb Rachow of Hager City, Wisconsin took 2nd with a 328 pound flatfish and third place went to Bonnie Woods of Valdez with a 274.5 pound fish she caught June 25th. Looking through the 2007 standings on www.valdezfishderbies.com, one will find large fish sprinkled throughout the leader board, so it’s hard to pinpoint the best time of the season for catching the big one. While we don’t yet know what size halibut it will take to win the derby or when it will be caught, you can be certain there’s a big one out there. You can also be certain the person who catches the big one will win $15,000 in cold hard cash. That is, if they buy a Valdez Fish Derby ticket.

A few early season anglers have dropped their lines for halibut prior to the derby and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is reporting larger fish being caught in the Western Entrance and Hinchinbrook Entrance. Excitement about king salmon fishing in Valdez is starting to build with the return of kings released from the new king pond four years ago. While angling for kings is slow right now, they can be found in the Narrows area and around Shoup Bay.

The Valdez Halibut Derby runs May 24th through August 31st and features weekly 1st and 2nd place prizes. The Silver Salmon Derby begins July 26th and will run through August 31st with daily 1st and 2nd place prizes as well as Big Prize Fridays the first and last Friday of the derby. On Big Prize Fridays, the daily first place winner will receive an Inflatable Raft from Marita Sea & Ski in addition to the daily prizes. During the 2007 Silver Salmon Derby, Ryan Smith of Chugiak took home $15,000 cash for catching the largest silver salmon of the season. His salmon weighed in at 19.72 pounds.

There will be a $500 prize for the vendor and operator selling the winning derby ticket in both derbies. Every derby ticket purchased for either the halibut or silver salmon derbies is entered for a chance to win a truck from Seekins Ford that will be on display throughout Valdez.

New for this season, the Valdez Fish Derbies will be awarding prizes for the top 50 fish in the Silver Salmon Derby and the Women’s Derby to celebrate Alaska’s 50 years of statehood. The 4th Annual Valdez Women’s Derby is slated for Saturday, August 9th with an opening ceremony Friday, August 8th and the closing ceremony Saturday night. Sonya Simon of Tok, Alaska was crowned Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood at last year’s event when she caught a 18.32 pound silver salmon. The Valdez Fish Derbies is also proud to announce a Kids’ Pink Salmon Derby. On Saturday, July 19th, children are encouraged to grab a pole and cast a line for a chance to win prizes. There will be no entry fee and a free barbeque will be put on for participants. Click here for more information on the Kids Derby.