12-Year-Old Still Holding Onto Valdez Silver Salmon Derby Lead; New Halibut Atop Leaderboard

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

12-Year-old still leading Valdez Silver Salmon Derby | Halibut Derby Leader (264.8-Pounds)

VALDEZ, Alaska – When asked what he was thinking when he saw his 264.8-pound halibut come out of the water, Lloyd Fanter responded, “I was absolutely amazed at how big the lips were,.” “It was a big fish.” Fanter said he was born and raised in Alaska and has been fishing halibut since he can remember. “Each chance I get, I’m out here fishing.” When asked what he does in the winter, Fanter said, “I just do a bit of ice fishing. I do a little bit of door dash on the side. I don’t have a bunch of income coming out of my bank account”.

Fanter said he wasn’t sure what he would do with $10,000 if his fish hung on to win the first-place prize in the Valdez Halibut Derby but mentioned possibly paying some toward his house or buying a new duck hunting gun.

Halibut aren’t the only big fish coming out of Valdez right now. There are daily 1^st and 2^nd place prizes in the Valdez Silver Salmon derby, and the daily winners have been in the 11-to-14-pound range for the last several weeks. With so many fish being caught, the Silver Salmon Derby is far from over.

The silver salmon fishing out of Valdez has been tremendous and with the new Silver Salmon Slam Tournament, anglers are hoping to take home cash and prizes in the Valdez Fish Derbies in the final week of the derby. The angler catching the largest fish in both the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby and Valdez Halibut Derby will win $10,000 cash when the derby ends August 31^st.

Anglers are catching silvers at Allison Point in increasing numbers, while boaters are having success trolling near the narrows, Gold Creek and from Allison Point. Alaska Department of Fish and Game suggests trolling a herring behind a medium-sized flasher.

Anglers will be out in force on the final Big Prize Friday August 30^th. On Friday, the angler catching the largest fish for the day will win $500 cash in addition to the daily prizes. There is also a new Silver Salmon Slam contest in the Valdez Fish Derbies. The angler catching the largest silver salmon between August 22^nd and the end of the derby August 31^st will win $1,000 in addition to regular derby prizes. To be eligible to win the Silver Slam Contest, anglers only need to have a daily or season Silver Salmon Derby ticket. Tickets are available at charters and stores around Valdez. CLICK HERE for ticket locations.

Anglers are still going out for halibut and several charters are treating guests to silver fishing once they have their limit of bottom fish. 1^st place prize in Halibut Derby is $10,000 cash. The 2^nd place prize in both derbies is $3,000 and 3^rd place is $1,500. The final day of both derbies is Sunday, August 31^stat noon and winners will be announced that evening.

Valdez Silver Salmon Derby Overall Winners

1^st           Addyson Lyons             Post Falls, AK                                 15.14 lbs.         August 9            Lyons Den

2^nd          Andrea Stauner            Fairbanks, AK                                 14.72 lbs.         August 9            Abbie

3^rd          James Male                     North Pole, AK                               14.64 lbs.         August 15         VO Rental Boat

Halibut Derby – Overall Winners

1^st           Lloyd Fanter                    Eagle River, AK                               264.8 lbs.         Aug 13                Chugach Girl

2^nd          James Cook                    Bremerton, WA                             210.0 lbs.         July 19                Dan Orion

3^rd          Mel Grove                         Palmer, AK                                        185.4 lbs.         July 5                   Mel Fare

For more information on the Valdez Derbies, visit: www.valdezfishderbies.com