VALDEZ, Alaska – It generally takes a pretty big fish to win $10,000 in the Valdez Halibut Derby, but anglers are winning weekly prizes worth hundreds of dollars with fish weighing in at 120 to 150-pounds. This week, Tim Abney of Hamilton, Montana took home the 1st place prize for the week with a 145.6-pound halibut he caught June 21st aboard the Alaskan Adventurer. Jason Waller of Fairbanks took 2nd place for the week with a 142.2-pound halibut he caught June 17th aboard the Sentinel.
For angler Taylor Otness of New Brighton, Minnesota getting on the leader board was a memorable experience even though he didn’t end up winning a prize. Otness said he was fishing out near Seal Rock when a large halibut hit his line. “It was the biggest fish I have ever caught,” said Otness. “It started pulling me to the edge of the boat and I knew it was going to be a good one.” Otness said his fish drew a crowd at the Valdez Harbor and when the derby weigh in scale settled, his fish weighed in at 87.8-pounds. His name was written on the derby leader board and when asked whether he searched the valdezfishderbies.com website to look at prizes he might win he said, “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t.” Otness was knocked off the leader board within the hour but he said it was a great experience. “It was a blast to know I was number one on the leader board at least for a little bit.” Did he get a picture? You bet he did!
Derby anglers have had a lot of halibut and rockfish to fillet at the Valdez Harbor, but the tables are also full of bright red salmon pulled from the Copper River. The Chitina Personal Use Fishery is currently open through Sunday, June 30th. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, more than 105,000 salmon passed the Miles Lake sonar the week of June 17th.
Pink salmon are expected to be available by the 4th of July weekend and should be in Port of Valdez for the Annual Kids Pink Salmon Derby. While pinks can likely be caught on July 4th weekend, there’s a Kids Pink Salmon Derby in Valdez Saturday, July 20th when the fish are heavier in the Port.
Valdez Fish Derbies will be giving away free hats for kids aged 5 to 16 between 6am and 10am Saturday morning, July 20th. To enter the Kids Pink Salmon Derby, kids just need to get a hat, take a picture that includes a pink salmon, one child and the hat (either on the kid or the fish!) and upload it to valdezfishderbies.com. Winners will be chosen at random for one of four $100 cash prizes or one of eight fishing poles. Visit https://www.valdezfishderbies.com/kids-derby/ for more information. The Kids Pink Salmon Derby is free and there will be a live radio show on KVAK 93.3FM and 1230AM Saturday, July 20th from 5pm to 6pm to announce the winners. KVAK Kids Broadcasting Camp participants will be emceeing the Kids Derby Radio Show and there will be giveaways exclusively for kids 5 to 16. The big radio prize is 10 pounds of jelly bellies. Information and winners will be posted on www.valdezfishderbies.com.
The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby starts July 20th, the same day as the Kids Derby, so anglers wanting a great family trip can fish for both pinks and silvers in the same weekend. The Women’s Silver Salmon Derby is slated for August 10th and the theme this year is “Carnival”.
Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Summer Ruge | Fairbanks, AK | 159.4 lbs. | May 27 | Chugach Girl
2nd Kathy Young | Fairbanks, AK | 152.8 lbs. | May 26 | Reel Dreams
3rd Michael Olson | North Pole, AK | 151.6 lbs. | June 8 | Big Fish
Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners
1st Tim Abney | Hamilton, MT | 145.6 lbs. | June 21 | Alaskan Adventurer
2nd Jason Waller | Fairbanks, AK | 142.2 lbs. | June 17 | Sentinel