Derby News - Week 1

Sutton Man Leads Valdez Derby with 128 Pound Halibut

Anglers excited about the start of the Valdez Halibut Derby Saturday were met with torrential downpour and temperatures in the low 40s. While the weather might not have been ideal for anglers, several large fish were weighed in the first day of the derby. In fact, on Saturday one fish tipped the scales at 111.3 pounds, but the Fairbanks angler who caught it did not have a derby ticket. The first fish weighed in for the derby was caught by Wayne Switalski of Fairbanks and it was a respectable 75.5 pounds. By the end of the Memorial weekend, Switalski’s fish was knocked out of contention by bigger fish.

Danny Allen of Sutton, Alaska caught a 128 pounder aboard the Harvester May 25th and currently leads the derby. Mary Jo Kampschnieder of Howells, Nebraska is currently in 2nd place with the 96.6 pound fish she caught aboard the Dan Orion May 24th. Currently in 3rd place is Martin Snyder of North Pole with a 91.9 pound flatfish he caught aboard the Dawn Treader May 25th. Snyder said his fish was double the size of anything he has ever caught before. With a 340 pound halibut taking the top prize of $15,000 in the 2007 derbies, it is not likely these fish will hang on through the end of the season. But it is very probable Allen and Kampschnieder could remain in position and take home the weekly 1st and 2nd place prizes in the derby. The Halibut Derby week runs Friday through Saturday.

Less than a week into the derby and we’re already hearing stories about the one that got away. If the standings remain the same, the angler from Fairbanks who didn’t buy a derby ticket will have a freezer full of halibut, but will most likely think of the 2nd place weekly prize that he missed out on every time he takes a bite. Derby tickets are available at: the weigh-in station, Fish Central, Prospector, Reynolds Alaska, and Capt’n Joe’s. Capt’n Joe’s convenience store is open 24 hours a day, so folks rolling into town late can pick up a ticket anytime. Tickets are $10 per day or $50 for the season. Derby tickets are good for free admission to the “Spawn ‘til Dawn” Derby Awards Party Sunday, August 31st.

Halibut Derby Overall Leaders

Danny Allen
Sutton, AK
128.0 lbs on May 25
Harvester