Alaksans Top The Valdez Halibut Derby Leaderboard

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

Palmer’s Rick Fleming moved into the derby lead with this 128.9-pounder. (VALDEZ FISH DERBIES)

With a 116-plus-pound fish on the board, local Valdez angler Tim Ellis is in second. (VALDEZ FISH DERBIES)

VALDEZ, Alaska – Rick Fleming of Palmer went halibut fishing for the first time in Valdez and the 128.9 pound halibut he brought in netted him the 1^st place weekly prize in the Valdez Halibut Derby. Fleming was jigging for halibut aboard the Reflection last Monday. “As soon as that fish hit, I knew it was a big one,” Fleming said. While Fleming knew his fish was a good size, he had to wait until the end of the derby week Saturday to find out if he won the 1^st place prize. When the weigh-in closed Saturday night at 8pm, Fleming’s name was still at the top of the leader board which means he did, indeed, win the 1^st place weekly prize. Fleming is also leading the overall derby. Tim Ellis of Valdez is currently 2^nd place in the overall derby with a 116.4 pound halibut and Dixie Jennings of Fairbanks is currently in 3^rd place with a 97.8 pound halibut.

There are weekly 1^st and 2^nd place prizes in the Valdez Halibut Derby. In addition to Fish Derby jackets and vests, weekly winner prize packets include gift certificates from derby sponsors. Fleming’s package included a free trip to Meares Glacier aboard Stan Stephens Cruises. While all the derby sponsor certificates are important, the Stan Stephens Cruise is especially nice to see in the 2021 prize packet because they were able to open in 2021 after a closure in 2020 and are celebrating their 60^th year in business. When asked whether he was more excited about the prizes or the notoriety of winning, Fleming responded “It’s the intrinsic value of accomplishing something I’ve been trying years to do. I am so happy to be on a leader board for the first time in my life”.

While a 128.9 pound halibut is big enough to win a weekly prize, the odds of Fleming’s fish winning the overall derby is unlikely. Last year Mickia Cenker of Fairbanks won the derby with a 224 pound flatfish and in 2019 a 285.6 pound halibut caught by Christine Ives won the big money. The odds of being knocked off the leader board will probably go up in early June as anglers converge on Valdez to compete in the Halibut Hullabaloo tournament June 5^th through 14^th. The angler catching the largest halibut during Halibut Hullabaloo will take home $1,000 in addition to the regular derby prizes. There is no fee to enter, but to compete in the tournament and regular derbies a ticket has to be purchased before anglers leave the dock. A daily ticket costs $10 and a season ticket is $50 for both the Silver Salmon Derby and the Valdez Halibut Derby. The grand prize for the largest halibut caught in Valdez this season is back up to $10,000, 2^nd place is $3,000 and 3^rd place is $1,500. The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby has daily 1^st and 2^nd place prizes and also features a $10,000 first place prize for the largest silver caught between August 14^th and September 5^th, $3,000 for 2^nd place and $1,500 for third place. 

The Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby is happening Saturday, August 14^th, and the Valdez Kid’s Pink Salmon Derby is on Saturday, July 24^th. Find weigh-in hours, ticket vendor locations, and more at www.valdezfishderbies.com

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st        Rick Fleming                Palmer, AK                  128.9 lbs.         May 24            Reflection

2^nd               Tim Ellis                      Valdez, AK                  116.4 lbs.         May 27                         Lena Claire

3^rd        Dixie Jennings             Fairbanks, AK               97.8 lbs.           May 22            LIAHO

Halibut Derby – Weekly Leaders – Week #1

1^st        Rick Fleming                Palmer, AK                  128.9 lbs.         May 24            Reflection

2^nd               Tim Ellis                      Valdez, AK                  116.4 lbs.         May 27                         Lena Claire