Last Call For Halibut, Silvers In Final Week Of Valdez Fish Derbies

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

VALDEZ, Alaska – The smallest winner on record in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is the 14.88-pound silver salmon that won the derby for Alisa MacInnes of Tampa, Florida just last year. Since 1971, there has only been just that one winning fish that weighed in at the fourteen-pound range. Three winning fish have weighed in at the fifteen-pound range and five winning silver salmon have weighed in at the sixteen-pound range. The majority of winning fish in the last 50 plus years weighed between 17 and 20 pounds, with only one 21-pound salmon and two 22-pound salmon in the books.

With one week left in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby, Penny Skuza of Riverdale, North Dakota is leading with a 14.50-pound fish caught August 16. It’s a pretty sure bet that there’s a silver salmon bigger than 14.50 pounds swimming around in Prince William Sound but whether an angler with a Valdez Fish Derby ticket will catch it and weigh it in before the end of the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is anyone’s guess. 

Ron Schulz of Grapevine, Texas is currently 2^nd place in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby with a 14.10-pound fish and Jackie Kaiser of Albuquerque, New Mexico is holding onto 3^rd place with a 12.96-pound silver salmon. In addition to the cash prizes for the biggest fish in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby, anglers are also fishing for tagged fish. Fifteen-year-old Aydan Lyons of Pist Falls, Idaho caught one of the 20 silver salmon tagged by Valdez Fish Derbies. He won an exclusive Valdez Fish Derbies jacket, but there are 19 other fish out in the waters of Prince William Sound and three of them would net derby anglers cash prizes. The top prize in the tagged fish contest is $5,000 cash. 

The Port of Valdez and Naked, Goose and Glacier islands have been producing coho salmon, according to Alaska Department of Fish and game as well as catches by Crafton Island. Anglers are also having success from shore near Allison Point and the Valdez Harbor. Spinners, pixies or a small piece of bait mooching are all good options for those targeting salmon from shore. 

Halibut and rockfish catches continue to be good in Prince William Sound and Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports that more halibut are getting picked up inside the sound as halibut move into bays, following salmon. ADF&G suggests spending time anchored up and using a chum bag to increase likelihood of success. Steve Peichel of Frazee, Minnesota is still leading the Valdez Halibut Derby with a 246.8-pound halibut. Maren Russman of Lino Lakes, Minnesota is currently in 2^nd place with a 214.8-pound halibut and Terrence McCabe of Valdez is hanging onto 3^rd place with his 202.0-pound catch.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st           Steve Peichel                     Frazee, MN                         246.8 lbs.             July 31                   Chugach Girl
2^nd          Maren Russman               Lino Lakes, MN                  214.8 lbs.             July 31                  Nunatak
3^rd           Terrence McCabe            Valdez, AK                           202.0 lbs.             July 5                    Only Fins

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners

1^st           Maurice Leuthner            Chasha, MN                        114.6 lbs.             Aug 22                   Final One
2^nd          Katelyn Cutler                    Ft. Wainwright, AK          113.0 lbs.             Aug 22                   Sea Hunter

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