VALDEZ, Alaska – Michael Olson of North Pole came down to Valdez to work on his boat trailer Saturday, left the port about 2pm and had a 151.6-pound halibut on his boat at about 3:45pm. Olson said he was fishing for rockfish in Port Fidalgo with a salmon rod with 65 pound test line and hooked into a big halibut. “We fish for rockfish with our salmon rods because it’s a lot more fun,” Olson said. “And then occasionally you hook a big fish like that.” Olson made it back to the harbor in time to weigh his fish and get on the Valdez Halibut Derby leader board. When asked how deep he was fishing, Olson said “you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. It was 62 feet of water”. Olson won the 1st place weekly prize in the Valdez Halibut Derby and is currently in 3rd place overall. Olson’s fish could also win him $1,000 in the Halibut Hullaballoo if it stays in the lead for the tournament that runs through June 16th.
The Valdez docks were teaming with anglers weighing in big fish late Saturday night, but on Friday it was looking like a 41.2-pound halibut might win the weekly prize. Natalie Prescaro of North Pole and her husband Alexander come to Valdez every year to fish. They always get a derby ticket, and they always weigh in their fish. On June 4th, Natalie Prescaro made the leader board with a 41.2-pound halibut she caught aboard the Chugach girl. “You win quite a bit with a ten-dollar ticket, it’s totally worth it” The odds of staying on the board with a 41.2-pound fish were not amazing, but Prescaro was in the lead for the 1st place weekly prize until Olson knocked her off the leaderboard three hours before the end of the derby week. Regardless of the size of the fish or the winnings, Alexander Prescado said he loves fishing in Valdez and the experience of weighing in a fish and being on the leaderboard is really fun. “Fishing in Valdez, for me, is a breath of fresh air”, said Alexander Prescaro.
Alaska Department of Fish and Games says halibut fishing has been fair to good throughout Prince William Sound. They suggest anglers try fishing at the entrances of a bay with a large jig tipped with herring in depths of 150 to 200 feet. Halibut fishing has been good outside the waters of Prince William Sound, including near Cape Junken, as well as around Montague and Elrington Islands. ADF&G says larger halibut have been showing up in the area and said anglers have been successful setting a chum bag and fishing a large herring on a circle hook. King salmon has picked up in Prince William Sound. Anglers have been catching kings trolling near Culross Island and in the Valdez area.