Leaderboard Changes For Valdez Halibut Derby

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

ANGLERS IN THEIR 70’S TAKE TOP TWO SPOTS IN VALDEZ HALIBUT DERBY

VALDEZ, Alaska – Paul Shirrell of Port Aransas Texas said he was using a white jig with a little piece of bait on the end of it when a 120.2-pound halibut hit his line. The 79-year-old angler and his wife bought Valdez Halibut Derby tickets before fishing Saturday and when the big fish hit his line, he knew the fish would be a contender for a weekly prize and the $1,000 cash prize in the Halibut Hullabaloo tournament. When asked what he thought after reeling up his fish, Shirrell said, “I caught my fish first, the big one, and I said man I’ve got this tournament won.”

Shirrell’s excitement didn’t last long because no more than 10 minutes later Steve Hylton, a 75-year-old angler from Boise Idaho, reeled in a 136.2-pound halibut aboard the same boat. Shirrell’s wife Gloria reeled in a halibut weighing over 60 pounds and another angler aboard the Hofshore brought in a halibut over 100 pounds. Hylton, who has fished 13 summers in Valdez during the last 18-years said, “I’ve never been on a halibut boat that caught that many big ones in a day”.

Both anglers said they fought their large fish for 10 to 15 minutes and it was a remarkably busy day. “There were always three or four on at a time, it seemed like, and we had one that went under the boat, went around the boat, came back around the boat, and that was the big one. It pulled in a couple lines with it, and then they were getting them tangled. It was just like chaos sometimes, because the fish were hitting so good,” Shirrell said.

Shirrell and Hylton met each other for the first time aboard the Hofshore on Saturday and Shirrell had no hard feelings about being knocked out of contention for the derby. “I was really proud that he caught that big fish, and I’m happy with second place, said Shirrell.

Hylton is happy with a weekly 1^st place prize and while he knows his fish is likely not big enough to hang on through the end of the derby to win the $10,000 grand prize, he hopes his fish is big enough to win the Halibut Hullabaloo tournament that ends June 21. “I’ve just got my hopes up a little bit, but it could last,” Hylton said.

The Valdez Fish Derbies committee is gearing up for the Kids Pink Salmon Derby, Silver Salmon Derby and Women’s Derby coming later this summer. The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is slated to begin July 25 and run through September 6. In addition to daily prizes in the Silver Salmon Derby, salmon anglers can win big money in the Silver Salmon Slam contest August 28 through September 6 There will also be a Women’s Silver Salmon Derby on August 8 with an opening event on August 7. The Valdez Fish Derbies will be hosting the Kids Pink Salmon Derby Saturday, July 25. For more information, visit www.valdezfishderbies.com.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1^st           Steve Hylton                   Boise, ID                            136.4 lbs.         June 12              Hofshore

2^nd               Paul Sherrill                     Port Aransas, TX          120.2 lbs.         June 12              Hofshore

3^rd          Lonnie Swanson          Delta Junction, AK       117.4 lbs.         June 12              Hofshore

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners – Week #3 – June 7^th through June13^th
1^st           Steve Hylton                   Boise, ID                            136.4 lbs.         June 12              Hofshore

2^nd               Paul Sherrill                     Port Aransas, TX          120.2 lbs.         June 12              Hofshore