Derby News - Week 7 (July 6 - July 12)

Halibut Hullabaloo Winner Walks Away with a Big Prize

Boats were swarming Valdez waters as anglers set out to catch the largest halibut during a three day tournament called the “Halibut Hullabaloo.” The Halibut Hullabaloo took place from July 11-13th. At the start of the Hullabaloo, a nice sized fish was weighed in at 126 pounds and held tightly onto the top spot for the first 2 days. Stealing the tournament was a 162.2 pound flatfish reeled in by Lois Ogle from Medford, WI. She caught her hefty sized fish aboard the Circus Circus on the third and final day of the Hullabaloo, knocking the 126 pounder right off the board. Ogle walked home with the first place prize which was 2 round trip tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies; a prize valued at $2500. Seventeen halibut were weighed in during the 3-day tournament, and a slew of rockfish and lingcod made an appearance on the docks as well. Among those brought to port this weekend was a 64 pound, 50 inch lingcod, a massive trophy fish caught by Craig Woods.

At the conclusion of Week 7 and the mid point of the Valdez Halibut Derby, local Valdez resident Lorena Jenkins, maintains the 1st place spot on the Derby Leader Board. For four weeks, no other angler has come close to snatching Jenkins hold on the $15,000 cash prize. The closest fish brought to Port Valdez weighed in at 207.2 lbs, and doesn’t compare to Jenkins’ 244.2 pounder. The 2nd place spot is held by David Gatch from Fairbanks, who has been on the Derby Leader Board since June 9th with his 207.2 pound flatfish. Still holding on the 3rd place is Alaskan resident, Kristin Chase with her 192.7 pound flatfish she caught on July 3rd. “There have been two halibut caught weighing over 200 lbs. so far this year compared to four at this time last year. As of July 12th there have been 101 fish weighed in since the start of the derby back in May.” said Ron Woods a local derby authority.

Taking home the 1st place weekly prize is Fred Bouse of Fairbanks with the 178.5 pounder he reeled in on July 9th aboard the Orion. Thirty pounds smaller taking home the 2nd place weekly prize is Michelle Peterson of Copper Center with her 143.5 pound halibut she reeled in aboard the No Excuses on July 7th.

The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby is happening this Saturday on July 19th. There is no entry fee, and there will be prizes awarded for each of the four age groups. Children must weigh their fish in at the Derby weigh-in station between 10am and 5pm and receive a free ticket to a barbeque and awards ceremony at Dock Point. Dave Cobb of the Valdez Fish Derby Committee explains, “The motivation behind this one-day tournament, is to get more kids interested in fishing, participating in the outdoors, enjoying Alaska and especially the waters around Valdez.”