Halibut, Silver Salmon Leaders Hold Spots As Valdez Derbies Hit Home Stretch

VALDEZ, Alaska – With less than two weeks left in the Valdez Halibut and Silver Salmon Derbies, only time will tell if Steve Peichel of Frazee, Minnesota will remain in the lead through September 5^th and win the $10,000 1^st place prize in the Valdez Halibut Derby. Frazee caught a 246.8-pound halibut aboard the Chugach Girl back on July 31^st. When asked how often he checked the valdezfishderbies.com website, Frazee replied “Daily. Everybody at work and around the community always hits me up, how are you doing? Where are you at? It’s a thrill to be a part of this.” When asked what he thought about his odds of winning the $10,000 prize he replied, “It’s a very big prize and if I hang on, I’ll be thrilled but any of the other prizes I would be very thrilled with as well. The experience is what I came for and this is all the extra”. 

Silver salmon are being caught just off the City Docks and at Allison Point so there will be a lot of opportunities for anglers to catch salmon the last two weeks of the derby. Boat anglers are having success out by the narrows, Gold Creek and in the Port.

Penny Skuza of Riverdale, North Dakota is leading the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby with a 14.20-pound silver salmon. Skuza will win 1^st place if her fish hangs on through September 5^th.

Ron Schulz of Grapevine, Texas is currently in 2^nd place overall with a 14.10-pound silver salmon and Jackie Kaiser of Albuquerque, New Mexico is currently in 3^rd place with a 12.96-pound silver she caught August 17^th. In 2017 a 15.62-pound silver caught bey Cole Baxter won the 1^st place prize and in 2018 a 17.28-pound silver caught by Aksel Hutchinson won. However, the last two years, the winning fish has been a bit smaller. In 2019 Tom Karlsten won with a 15.32-pound silver and in 2020 it was Alisa MacInnes taking home the top prize with a 14.88-pound fish.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st           Steve Peichel                     Frazee, MN                         214.8 lbs.             July 31                   Chugach Girl
2^nd          Maren Russman               Lino Lakes, MN                  214.8 lbs.             July 21                  Nunatak
3^rd           Terrence McCabe            Valdez, AK                           202.0 lbs.             July 5                    Only Fins

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners

1^st           Mark Miller                         Palmer, AK                          120.0 lbs.             Aug 16                   Dan Orion
2^nd          Gary Severtson                 Palmer, AK                          116.0 lbs.             Aug 19                   Gweneth

Silver Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st           Penny Skuza                       Riverdale, ND                     14.50 lbs.             Aug 16                   Penny Jean
2^nd          Ron Schulz                          Grapevine, TX                    14.10 lbs.             Aug 18                  Team Tater
3^rd           Jackie Kaiser                       Albuquerque, NM           12.96 lbs.             Aug 17                   Orion

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