KIDS PINK SALMON DERBY AND SILVER SALMON DERBY START SATURDAY

VALDEZ, Alaska – Anglers are catching pink salmon from the shores of Allison Point in Valdez. With the Valdez Fisheries Development Association (VFDA) forecasting a return of millions of pink salmon to Port Valdez this season, there should be a lot of action for the Kids Pink Salmon Derby this Saturday. Allison Point is a great place for young anglers to fish from shore during Kids Pink Salmon Derby Day with a pixie or spinner. The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby is free for kids age 5 to 16 and $100 cash and other prizes are awarded in four different categories.

After a day of fishing out of Port Valdez, kids can enter the pink derby by submitting pictures on the Valdez Fish Derbies website for a chance to win prizes. Kids can qualify for the derby by picking up a FREE Valdez Fish Derbies hat between 6am and 10am this Saturday at the Valdez Fish Derbies weigh-in station. Anglers need to take a picture of themselves with the hat and a pink salmon caught in Valdez Saturday and post on the Valdez Fish Derbies website by midnight the day of the Kids Derby v for a chance to win. Winners will be chosen at random.

Kids in 4^th to 8^th grade will be on the air broadcasting a LIVE Kids Derby Radio Show from 5pm to 6pm Saturday, July 20^th on 93.3FM & 1230AM KVAK. The show will also be streamed LIVE on the KVAK Radio App (which can be downloaded from the Apple App or Google Play Store) and can be streamed from a computer at www.kvakradio.com. Kids will take over the studio and take callers age 5 to 16 to play games and win prizes like ice cream. One lucky caller will win 10 pounds of jellybeans.

This Saturday is also the start of the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby. Anglers of all ages wanting a chance to catch the largest silver in Valdez and take home the $10,000 Valdez Fish Derbies 1^st place prize can buy a derby ticket, get a line wet and give it a try. Bonnie Woods of Valdez said she caught several silver salmon while fishing for halibut out in Patton Bay earlier this week. The Silver Derby 2^nd place prize is $3,000 and 3^rd place overall is $1,500 cash. Valdez Fish Derbies will also award daily 1^st and 2^nd place prizes July 20^th through September 1^st for the largest Silver Salmon caught each day. Starting July 20^th the weigh-in station will be open 1pm to 8pm.

Halibut fishing continues to be good, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game says they are well distributed throughout Prince William Sound. Dennis Morre of Bremerton, Washington is currently leading the Valdez Halibut Derby with a 190.4-pound halibut he caught aboard the Dan Orion. Jeff Smith of Tucson, Arizona is currently in 2^nd place with a 160.8-pound fish he caught aboard the Connie B III and Summer Ruge of Fairbanks is currently in 3^rd place with a 159.4-pound fish.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st  Dennis Moore | Bremerton, WA | 190.4 lbs. | July 12 | Dan Orion

2^nd  Jeff Smith | Tucson, AZ | 160.8 lbs. | June 29 | Connie B II

3^rd  Summer Ruge | Fairbanks, AK | 159.4 lbs. | May 27 | Chugach Girl

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners – July 7^th through 13^th 

1^st  Dennis Moore  | Bremerton, WA | 190.4 lbs. | July 12 | Dan Orion

2^nd  James Reynolds | Grapeview, WA | 115.6 lbs. | July 12 | Dan Orion