VALDEZ, Alaska – The top three fish in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby were caught from shore. Jacob Marquardt of Valdez reeled in his 1st place 17.52 pound silver on September 1st in the Boat Harbor. John Neitzeke of Grand Rapids, Minnesota reeled in his 2nd place 17.26 pound silver September 1st at Allison Point. Dawn Osmonson-Sturm also reeled in her 3rd place fish at Allison Point. Osmonson-Sturm is from Waukee, Iowa and her 17.18 pound silver was reeled in August 30th. First place in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is $15,000 cash, 2nd place is $5,000 and 3rd place is $2,000.
While the Silver Salmon Derby winners were all caught the last days of the derby, that was not the case for the Valdez Halibut Derby. David Jamison of Fairbanks reeled in his 253.0 pound halibut May 29th aboard the Nanatuk and had to wait until September 4th to find out he was the $15,000 first place winner in the halibut derby. Kim Steiger of Westchester, Pennsylvania reeled in her 211.0 pound halibut July 5th aboard the Halibut Grove and Jeff Leaverton of Madisonville, Louisiana caught his 174.4 lbs. halibut June 16th to take 3rd place overall.
This final Big Prize Friday was won by Don Sturm of Waukee, Iowa. Sturm reeled in a 16.28 pound silver to net himself the $500 Big Prize Friday cash award.
Kim Steiger’s winning Halibut was caught aboard the Halibut Grove and the Captain of that boat, Chris Steiger won the $500 Captains prize. In the Silver Salmon Derby, it was Jamie Kompkoff of Easy Freeze that won the $500 prize for selling the winning ticket. In the Halibut Derby, Donna Waller of Easy Freeze sold the winning ticket. There was no Captain’s prize for the Silver Derby since the winning fish was caught at the Small Boat Harbor.
In the Valdez Fish Derbies, everyone who purchases a daily ticket is entered to win $10,000 cash at the end of the season. Those purchasing season tickets have five entries in the $10,000 drawing. At the end of the season, all the entries are put into a barrel and a winning ticket is chosen. This year Wade Neske of Minnesota was the winner. Next year’s dates, as well as pictures and information about the 2016 winners, can be found at www.valdezfishderbies.com.
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
Silver Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Jacob Marquardt Valdez, AK 17.52 lbs. Sept 1 Boat Harbor
2nd John Neitzke Grand Rapids, MN 17.26 lbs. Sept 1 Allison Point
3rd Dawn Osmonson-Sturm Waukee, IA 17.18 lbs. Aug 30` Allison Point