Winning Fish in Kids Pink Salmon Derby Tips Scales at 7.5 Pounds

Derby News – 2014 Kids’ Derby

VALDEZ, Alaska – There is nothing better than the happy shout of a child with a fish on their line and Saturday there was plenty of hooting and hollering both from shore and from boats in Port Valdez. Fishing was a bit slow early morning, but picked up just after high tide at 8am. The winning fish was caught from a boat, but there was plenty of action from shore.

Nearly 300 kids converged on Valdez for the 7th Annual Kids Pink Salmon Derby Saturday. The weigh-in station gave away 300 free t-shirts to kids age 5 to 16 that got a line wet. Just over 200 kids weighed in a fish and the 11 to 13 year-old age division was competitive. Eleven year old Aaron Williams of Fairbanks won his age division and took top honors for largest fish in the derby with a 7.5 pound pink salmon. His fish made it to the 5th position on the list of top fish caught in the history of the 7-year derby. Aaron Williams said, “The secret was a green pixie”. Aaron Williams, who has come from Fairbanks the last three years to fish the Kids Derby, said he is coming back next year and bringing green pixies. Warren Williams took 2nd place in the same age division and had the 2nd largest fish with a 6.28 pound pink.

In the 8 to 10 year age division, Mark Boedefeld of Anchorage took top honors as well as the 1st place prize of a longboard skateboard and 5 year subscription to Fish Alaska Magazine with a 5.52 pound pink salmon. Branden Van Landingham of North Pole won the 14 to 16 year old division with a 5.33 pound pink and Kelsey Prax of Valdez won the six to 8 year old division with a 5.32 pound pink salmon. First place winners in each age division received a longboard skateboard and 5 year subscription to Fish Alaska Magazine. The 2nd place winners received a skateboard and 3 year subscription to Fish Alaska Magazine and the 3rd place finishers took home a fishing pole from Prospector and a one year magazine subscription.

5-7 Age Division Winner – Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby

8-10 Age Division Winner – Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby

11-13 Age Division Winner – Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby

14-16 Age Division Winner – Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby

Top 10 (2008 through 2014) Pink Salmon Derby Winners