SILVER SALMON FISHING EXPECTED TO BE GOOD LAST WEEK OF SEASON
VALDEZ, Alaska – Silver salmon fishing is picking up but no one has been able to top the 16.96 pound silver salmon Tommy Jobe of Washington, Oklahoma caught August 17th. Jobe was trolling four miles out of the Valdez harbor by the Gold Mine when he caught a big one. Joe said they were fishing in the fog, trolling about 30 feet deep. When asked what he and his wife would do with a $15,000 grand prize if his fish held on to win the grand prize in the derby, Jobe responded “I have an idea of what she might do with it”. At the time he caught the fish, Jobe didn’t think he had to put much thought into how to spend the grand prize. “It’s kind of far-fetched that it will hold up through September 4th,” Jobe said. “There are some big fish being brought in”.
In the Halibut Derby, the early front runner was David Jamison of Fairbanks who reeled in a 253 pound halibut May 29th. Jamison said he didn’t realize how big the prize was until he got back to Port Valdez. “My jaw dropped when I found out it was $15,000” said Jamison. Even way back in May, Jamison knew a 253 pound fish had a chance of holding on to the end of the derby. When asked why he purchased a derby ticket, Jamison replied “because you never know when you’re going to catch a 250 pound halibut”.
This Friday, anglers will have a chance to win an additional $500 during Big Prize Friday. The person who buys a derby ticket and brings in the biggest silver salmon Friday will win $500 in cash in addition to the daily prizes. And the daily 1st place prize for September 2nd includes a Salmon Charter and other prizes valued at $490. A complete list of prizes for both the weekly halibut winners and the daily silver salmon derby winners can be found on the www.valdezfishderbies.com website.
The Valdez Halibut and Silver Salmon Derbies end Sunday, September 4th at noon. The raffle for $10,000 cash will be held at the Derby Awards Party that begins at 6pm at the Elks Lodge. Silver and Halibut Derby winners will be awarded their prizes and everyone will have a chance to win door prizes and enjoy snacks as the halibut and silver derby prizes are awarded. The drawing for the $10,000 cash prize will commence at 7pm and everyone who purchased a ticket during the season or at the door that night will be entered to win.
Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1st David Jamison Fairbanks, AK 253.0 lbs. May 29 Nanatuk
2nd Kim Steiger Westchester, PA 211.0 lbs. July 5 Halibut Grove
3rd Jeff Leaverton Madisonville, LA 174.4 lbs. June 16 Dan Orion
Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners
1st Lonnie Young North Pole, AK 165.2 lbs. Aug 27 Bold Eagle
2nd Brian Warwick Westchester, PA 116.0 lbs. Aug 27 Jaime Lynn
Silver Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Tommy Jobe Washington, OK 16.96 lbs. Aug 17 Wild Goose
2nd Wyatt Bartlett Fairbanks, AK 16.64 lbs. Aug 28 Allison Point
3rd Jim Currie Fairbanks, AK 16.54 lbs. Aug 23 Jaime Sunday