Girl Power! The Ladies Take Center Stage At Valdez Silver Salmon Derbies

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

WOMEN TAKE OVER THE SILVER SALMON DERBY LEADER BOARD

VALDEZ, Alaska – When Valdez angler Deanna Cox of Valdez hooked her big fish Saturday, she said they had to put the boat in reverse so they could catch it.  Cox has been fishing the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby since it’s inception in 2005 and said she knew she had a big fish on when Charter Captain Dave Wiley hollered at his wife Frieda to put the boat in reverse. “It (the fish) took off heading toward the gulf and it was not slowing down so that’s when Frieda put it in reverse and saved the day. Cox said she had to reel fast to keep tension on the line and bring the big the big fish in. 

Cox has fished the Women’s Derby for 18 years but said she has never caught a fish close to the top three. When asked what she did differently this year, Cox initially responded that she had made cookies to take on the Women’s Derby boat every year except this year, but after thinking about it, she decided that going on the Wiley’s boat was probably a bigger factor. Dave Wiley has been chartering in Valdez for more than 30 years and his wife Frieda caught the derby winning halibut in 2017. Frieda’s halibut weighed in at 374.0-pounds and holds the record for being the largest halibut on record in the Valdez Halibut Derby. 
Cox was crowned Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood and wins $1,000 cash and $1,000 in prizes from the Prospector. She also won the daily first-place prize and took the lead in the overall Silver Salmon Derby. She has a chance to win $10,000 cash if her fish holds onto the lead through the end of the Silver Salmon Derby Sunday, September 4 at noon. Paula Rothenbuhler of Salcha, Alaska caught a 13.86-pound silver Saturday to take second place in the Women’s Derby and she is currently in second place overall in the regular derby. Jeanie Hebert-Truax of Wasilla took third place in the Women’s Derby with a 12.90-pound silver and is currently in third place in the regular derby. A majority of the boats going out for silver salmon on Saturday were at Glacier Island, but anglers did catch fish in the Port and have been reeling in a few from shore at Allison Point. In the coming weeks, fishing from shore will continue to improve. 

In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Jeremy Smith of North Pole is still leading and stands to win the $10,000 first place prize if his fish holds on through the end of the derby September 4. If Smith’s halibut holds on, it will be the smallest halibut to win the Grand Prize for largest fish in the recorded history of the Valdez Halibut Derby. Al White of Wasilla is currently in second place with a 166.8-pound halibut he caught August 5 and Chris Milles of Melbourne, Florida is currently in third place with a 150-pound halibut. 

Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby WINNERS

1^st           Deanna Cox                        Valdez, AK                                           14.42 lbs.             Aug 13                   Orion

2^nd          Paula Rothenbuhler        Salcha, AK                                           13.86 lbs.             Aug 13                   Bucket List

3^rd           Jeanie Herbert-Truax     Wasilla, AK                         12.90 lbs.             Aug 13                   Lyons Den

Valdez Silver Salmon Derby Overall Leaders

1^st           Deanna Cox                        Valdez, AK                                           14.42 lbs.             Aug 13                   Orion

2^nd          Paula Rothenbuhler        Salcha, AK                                           13.86 lbs.             Aug 13                   Bucket List

3^rd           Jeanie Herbert-Truax     Wasilla, AK                         12.90 lbs.             Aug 13                   Lyons Den

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st           Jeremy Smith                     North Pole, AK                   170.0 lbs.             June 23                 Chugach Girl
2^nd          Al White                               Wasilla, AK                          166.8 lbs.             August 5               Dan Orion
3^rd           Chris Milles                         Melbourne, FL                   150.0 lbs.             May 28                 Halibut Grove