VALDEZ, Alaska – The Valdez Silver Salmon derby began Saturday and the largest fish weighed in was a 11.92 pound silver caught by Lavonne Kennedy of Valdez aboard the Lady Lavonne.
Charter Captain Sanoe Deaver said they are picking up a few silvers about an hour and a half out of Valdez by Goose island. “They’re slowly coming in, but they’re out there”, Deaver said.
There are daily 1st and 2nd place prizes in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby as well as a $10,000 first place prize. Lavonne Kennedy took 1st place for opening day and Anne Branshaw was 2nd place for the day with a 11.14 pound silver she caught aboard the Highmark.
In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Doug Cranor of Valdez is still leading the way with the 239.0 pound halibut he caught June 23rd. Weekly winners were William Howe of Fairbanks with a 187.0 pound halibut and Todd Carsten of Valdez with a 145.4 pound halibut. Halibut anglers are doing well. Charters have been able to reach the fishing grounds and have been bringing back numerous rock fish and lingcod in addition to their halibut.
Pink salmon fishing was amazing for the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby. More than 300 fish were weighed in on Saturday. The biggest pink salmon in the derby this year was a 7.80 pound pink caught by Liliana Garcia of Fairbanks. Garcia is no stranger to the Kids Derby having placed 2nd in 2014 with a 5.06 pound fish in the 5 to 7 year-old age division. Garcia also just made it onto the list of anglers catching the Top 10 biggest fish ever caught in the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby. Garcia’s fish took the 10th spot on the list.
The pinks will be around awhile for everyone to catch, but there are also some trout fisheries that have been fun for kids. Ruth Pond and Blueberry Lake were recently stocked with catchable size rainbow trout.
Valdez Fish Derbies is now gearing up for Silver Salmon Big Prize Friday and the 2018 Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby. Big Prize Friday is July 27th and the angler catching the largest silver salmon that day will win $500 in addition to the regular prizes. The Women’s Silver Salmon Derby is Saturday, August 11th with an opening event on Friday, August 10th. The theme of this year’s Women’s Derby is “Circus”. Valdez Fish Derbies Women’s Derby Page on the Valdez Fish Derbies website has all the information.
Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Doug Cranor Valdez, AK 239.0 lbs. June 23 Redhead
2nd Russell Young Fairbanks, AK 226.0 lbs. June 23 Dan Orion
3rd Tim Ingraham North Pole, AK 214.2lbs. July 7 Jaime Lynn
Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners
1st William Howe Fairbanks, AK 187.0 lbs. July 19 Jaime Lynn
2nd Tod Carsten Valdez, AK 145.4 lbs. July 21 Straydog
Silver Salmon Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Lavonne Kennedy Valdez, AK 11.92 lbs. July 21 Lady Lavonne
2nd Anne Branshaw Valdez, AK 11.14 lbs. July 21 Highmark
3rd Glenna Wiehe Big Lake, AK 10.48 lbs. July 21 Crista June