Derby News - Week 8 (July 13 - July 19)

The Silvers Have Arrived, Just in Time for the Derby

Most of the time when fishing in and around Prince William Sound, many anglers intend to catch silvers while they toss the pink salmon back. This past weekend proved to be a whole different story. As kids lined the shore, with poles in hand for the Kids Pink Salmon Derby, their fishing for pinks was often interrupted with a bite from a silver. More than 200 pinks were weighed in by youngsters on Saturday, and many silvers were hauled out of the ocean as well.

With multiple reports of silver salmon at the entrance of the Valdez harbor, and the Silver Salmon Derby rapidly approaching, it looks like silver season is upon us. The derby is slated to begin this Saturday, July 26th. Dave Cobb of the Valdez Fisheries Development Association explains, “You are going to find them just outside of Port Valdez until the end of July, when they will move in large numbers and start schooling closer to Port. Fry release (last year) was excellent, and the fish were in perfect shape when they left. As long as food is out there for them, they come back and we’ll have a lot of fish, between 300 and 400 thousand.” The average size of a silver salmon is approximately eight pounds, however, the fish can reach an excess of twenty pounds at times.

The Valdez Halibut Derby rages on as we enter week number eight. The two anglers to catch the biggest fish for the week took home a hefty prize package. Scott Benzo, a Valdez local, brought in a 141.6 pound halibut last Sunday, while fishing aboard the Theresa Marie. Lois Ogle from Medford Wisconsin was the big winner, with her first place for the week 162.2 pounder. She landed the flatfish aboard the Circus Circus last Sunday as well. Neither angler broke into the overall standings this week. The leader board has remained untouched for three weeks running, with the first and second place holders standing strong for the past six weeks. Lorena Jenkins holds the lead with her 244.4 pounder caught on June 14th. Hooked into second place is David Gatch from Fairbanks with a 207.2 pound fish, while the third place holder is Kristin Chase from North Pole, AK with her 192.7 pounder.

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. Participants of the derby will also get their names put into a drawing for a truck from Seekins Ford. For more information on the Valdez Halibut Derby or upcoming silver salmon and women’s derby, go to www.valdezfishderbies.com.