13.02 – Joel Stephens – Ardmore, OK – No Name
VALDEZ, Alaska – The Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby is this Saturday, and one lucky woman will be crowned “Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood.” Valdez Fish Derbies will give away $1,000 cash and $1,000 in prizes from Prospector Outfitters to the woman catching the largest fish Saturday. The 2nd place winner will get $500 in cash and $500 in prizes and the 3rd place winner will get $300 cash and $300 in prizes. The cost to participate in the Women’s Derby ticket is a $30 registration and a Silver Salmon Derby season ticket or daily ticket for Saturday. A daily Silver Salmon Derby ticket is just $10 and could net an angler a $10,000 1st place prize if they catch the largest silver salmon this season. Registration for the Women’s Derby is being held at Prospector on Galena Street 10am to 10pm August 7th through 10th and Saturday morning 6:30am to noon.
Natalie Chamberlain of Fairbanks caught a 10.86-pound silver last year during the Women’s Derby and took home cash, prizes, a tiara, and pink bathrobe fit for a queen. The largest silver salmon caught so far in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is a 13.02-pound silver caught by Joel Stephens of Ardmore, Oklahoma fishing out by Glacier Island. Anglers are reporting catches of King Salmon out by Glacier Island and Alaska Department of Fish and Game says silver fishing is good near Glacier Island and anglers are picking up some Coho near Crafton and Naked Islands and in the southwest portion of Prince William Sound.
This year’s Women’s Silver Salmon Derby will feature a Friday Night “Carnival Treasure Hunt“ that will have participants grabbing a Treasure Map at weigh-in and searching for clues and playing games. Everyone who registers for the Women’s Derby will get a 2024 Dog Tag and if their number is posted at sponsor locations, they will win instant prizes. There will also be an opportunity for women to compete in a Group Costume contest by taking a picture at the weigh-in station. There will be Door Prizes announced on the Women’s Derby Page of the Valdez Fish Derbies website and women will register to win one of three prize packages at registration. Leader boards just below the Harbor Masters Office and at the weigh-in shack will be updated as fish come in. Women’s Derby Weigh-In closes at 6pm on Saturday and all the winners will be posted at www.valdezfishderbies.com and at the weigh-in boards down at the Valdez Harbor. The theme of this year’s Women’s Derby is “Carnival” and participants are encouraged to dress up for the Friday night event and even while fishing Saturday.
In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Gary Nygren of Westminster, Maryland is leading with a 198.2-pound fish he caught August 3rd. Dennis Moore of Bremerton, Washington is currently in 2nd place with a 190.4-pound halibut caught July 21st and Jeff Smith of Tucson, Arizona is currently in 3rd place with a 160.8-pound halibut caught June 29th. The Halibut derby runs through September 1st. More information on Valdez Halibut Derby can be found at: www.valdezfishderbies.com.
Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Gary Nygren | Westminster, MD | 198.2 lbs. | Aug 3 | Sentinel
2nd Dennis Moore | Bremerton, WA | 190.4 lbs. | July 13 | Dan Orion
3rd Jeff Smith | Tucson, AZ | 160.8 lbs. | June 9 | Connie B III
Silver Salmon Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Joel Stephens | Ardmore, OK | 13.02 lbs. | Aug 2 | No Name
2nd Pam Rameau | Houston, TX | 12.94 lbs. | July 27 | Faithful
3rd Richard Babcock | JBER, AK | 11.58 lbs. | Aug 2 | Josie Whales