264-Plus Pound Fish Takes Lead In Valdez Halibut Derby

By chrisco2 August18, 2025 Featured Content, Fishing 0 Comments

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

VALDEZ SILVER SALMON SLAM STARTS AUGUST 22

EAGLE RIVER MAN REELS IN 264.8 POUND HALIBUT

VALDEZ, Alaska – Lloyd Fanter of Eagle River took the lead in the Valdez Halibut Derby when he reeled in a 264.8-pound halibut August 13th. Fanter stands to win the $10,000 cash prize in the Valdez Halibut Derby if his fish stays in the lead through August 31.

Silver salmon fishing in Valdez has been hot and one lucky angler will win $1,000 cash during the Silver Slam Tournament August 22 through 31. The angler catching the largest silver salmon during the Silver Salmon Slam will win $1,000 cash in addition to the regular derby prizes. Anglers with a Silver Salmon Derby Ticket are eligible to win the $1,000 Silver Salmon Slam cash prize. There is no additional cost to participate in the Silver Slam. A one-day silver salmon derby ticket for $10 and a season ticket that costs $50 is all an angler needs to be eligible for Salmon Slam Tournament cash prize. The angler catching the largest fish in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby which ends August 31 will win $10,000 cash.

With a 264.8-pound fish, Lloyd Fanter of Eagle River, Alaska, is the new Valdez Halibut Derby leader. (VALDEZ FISH DERBIES)

Right now, the leader in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is 12-year-ols Addyson Lyons of Port Falls, Idaho with a 15.14-pound fish. James Cook of Bremerton, Washington is leading the Valdez Halibut Derby with a 210-pound halibut. The angler catching the Valdez Halibut Derby will also win $10,000.

The last three years, the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby winners were in the 14-pound range. This year, a 15.14-pound silver was brought to Port during the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby. Anglers trolling at 40 to 80 feet have been successful catching their limit of salmon just outside Port Valdez, along Gold Creek and through the narrows. Anglers started reporting catches of silver salmon at Allison Point the first week in August so fishing from shore should be hot the final days of the derby.

In the final weeks of the derbies, there will be 1^st and 2^nd place daily winners in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby and weekly 1^st and 2^nd place winners in the Halibut Derby. The final Big Prize Friday will be held August 29 with the angler catching the largest silver salmon on that day winning $500 cash in addition to the daily prizes.

When it comes to catching silver salmon and king salmon, there has been one constant and that is depth. The fish are running very deep this season according to anglers winning daily prizes in the derby.