Week 7: North Pole Dominate 4th of July Weekend, The Pinks Are In

Derby News – Week 7, 6/29-7/05

VALDEZ, Alaska – Two North Pole anglers hit the record books during the 4th of July weekend, winning the 1st and 2nd place weekly prizes in the Valdez Halibut Derby. Steve Huisman of North Pole, reeled in a 158.2 pound halibut aboard the Otter Dodger to win himself a Valdez Fish Derbies winner jacket and t-shirt, a fishing charter and a glacier cruise. Theodore Kirchmeir of North Pole won the 2nd place weekly prize in the halibut derby with the 151.2 pound halibut he caught July 5th aboard the Halibut Grove. Kirchmeir took home a prize package that included a Valdez Fish Derbies winners vest and t-shirt as well as certificates from Valdez Fish Derbies sponsors. Prizes for each week of the derby can be found at www.valdezfishderbies.com.

In addition to winning the weekly first place prize, Huisman’s 158.2 pound halibut is also in 2nd place in the overall standings behind the 203.6 pound halibut caught by Scott Hebig of Wasilla on June 20th. Hebig is currently leading the Halibut Derby and Sharon Daniels of Valdez drops to 3rd place in the standings with the 154.4 pound halibut she caught in June.

According the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, halibut angling has been good. Rockfish catches have been good in Montague Strait and out in the Gulf by Seal Rocks and Hinchinbrook. Lingcod fishing opened last week and many anglers reported good catches throughout the Sound. Large jigs fished 10 feet off the bottom near and on top of steep rocky ridges and reefs work quite well for lingcod. Pink salmon are definitely in at Allison Point. Pink salmon are being caught from shore at Allison Point as well as from the John Kelsey dock in town. KVAK Reporter Iam Cabitac reported seeing a silver salmon being caught from the City Dock but could not hook one himself.

The Kids Pink Salmon Derby is set for Saturday, July 19h. The Kids Derby is open to children age 5 to 16 and there is no fee to enter. Kids just need to weigh-in a pink salmon at the Valdez Fish Derbies weigh-in station Saturday, July 19th to get a t-shirt and have a chance of winning one of the top three spots in their age division. A free family barbeque and awards will follow the day of fishing. The first 300 kids to stop by the weigh-in will get a free t-shirt courtesy of Alyeska Pipeline Service Company and the Valdez Fish Derbies.

The Silver Salmon Derby will start July 19th and the Women’s Derby is August 8th and 9th. Valdez Fish Derbies dates, prizes, rules, winners, pictures and more can be found at www.valdezfishderbies.com.