VALDEZ – The Pink Salmon arrived just in time for the 2024 Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby. With bluebird skies and calm seas in the Port, kids caught pinks in large numbers Saturday. Devon Snorek of Fairbanks said she and her father came down with her kids and had an amazing day. “The Tide came up and the fish just started slamming about every other cast”, said Snorek. She said a couple fish got off the hook and swam away but they ended up with a total of eight fish. Snorek said this was the first time her six-year-old son Robert had caught a salmon. “Watching him reel it in and the joy on his face …it’s phenomenal seeing, (it) especially as the sea lions pop up and yell at us for taking their fish.”
Samantha Pennell (formerly Samantha Ace) of Wasilla grew up in Valdez and has fond memories of fishing in the Kids Derby. “I have been doing this Derby for as long as I can remember’, Pennell said. “It was a very exciting thing then and it’s exciting to do it with my kids now. I think it gives them a sense of independence (when) they don’t have to have their parents standing with them there …when they are able to cast and get a fish on by themselves and reel it in, it’s a big confidence boost”. When Pannell’s daughter Anabelle was asked what her favorite thing about the Kids Derby was, she responded “I learned how to catch by myself!”.
Fishing is not the only thing Pennell remembers fondly. “I was actually a KVAK Kids Club Member”, Pennell said as a group talked about their plans to listen to the KVAK Kids Club Radio Show later Saturday night. This past week, eight kids in 5th through 10th grade attended a Kids Broadcasting camp at the local radio station and created a one hour show for kids. The phone rang off the hook as young broadcasters DJ’d a live radio show, ran the board, and took callers. Several kids won ice cream cones and Brodey Colter of Salcha won 10 pounds of jellybeans.
The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby started with kids picking up a free hat and then fishing from shore or a boat to catch pink salmon. Once they caught a fish, they took a picture with themselves, the fish, and the hat. Four lucky kids were chosen at random to win $100 cash and eight other kids won fishing poles from the Valdez Prospector.
The kids that won the $100 prize in their age division were Hudson Lukens of Fairbanks, Breanna Stauner of Fairbanks, Lucy Kane of Wasilla, and Joslyn Unger of Valdez.
For more information about Valdez Fish Derbies or to see photos, visit www.valdezfishderbies.com
WINNERS OF THE 2024 VALDEZ KIDS PINK SALMON DERBY
5 to 7 Age Division
$100 Winner
Hudson Lukens, Fairbanks, AK
Fishing Pole Winner
Olivia Kane, Wasilla, AK
Fishing Pole Winner
Jaxon Wheeler, Stillwater, OK
8 to 10 Age Division
$100 Winner
Breanna Stauner, Fairbanks, AK
Fishing Pole Winner
Avis Nichols, Valdez, AK
Fishing Pole Winner
GraceLynn Ace, Valdez, AK
11 to 13 Age Division
$100 Winner
Lucy Kane, Wasilla, AK
Fishing Pole Winner
Blair Demonski, Fairbanks, AK
Fishing Pole Winner
Avery Defrance Reeves, Fairbanks, AK
14 to 16 Age Division
$100 Winner
Joslyn Unger, Valdez, AK
Fishing Pole Winner
Trayce Babich, Brenham, TX
Fishing Pole Winner
Sakaia Fischer, Fairbanks, AK