Local Valdez Resident Wins Women’s Silver Salmon Derby ‘Queen’

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

VALDEZ, Alaska – Lindy Vitatow of Valdez was crowned Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood. Vitatow’s silver salmon was the largest weighed in for the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby. At 12.0-pounds, her fish was the only one to break the 12-pound mark on Saturday. Vitatow won $1,000 in cash and $1,000 in prizes from Prospector Outfitters in addition to the tiara and pink Bathrobe embroidered with “Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood.” Vitatow also won the first place daily prize in the regular Valdez Silver Salmon Derby and is currently in third place overall.

Debra Lancaster of Valdez caught her very first silver salmon on Saturday in Jacks Bay and her 11.38-pound silver took second place in the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby.  Julie Anderson of Wasilla, Alaska took third place in the Women’s Derby with an 11.26-pound silver. Here are some other images from the event:

Ten-year-old Finley Nyback from Anchorage was in contention for one of the top three spots early on in the derby with the 10.64-pound fish she caught on Saturday. Finley and her younger sister Sylvia both caught bigger fish than their mother Sonnett, but Mom couldn’t have been happier. Sonnett said they caught several seven and eight-pound fish out by Glacier Island, but Finley caught the first fish of the day and it was more than 10 pounds. “I love the sense of community that’s around the women’s derby,” Sonnett Nyback said. “I love seeing all the women come out and participate in the events. I love seeing women out fishing.” Finley didn’t end up placing in the Women’s Derby but she made some great memories participating in the Carnival Treasure Hunt event Friday night and fishing with her family Friday night. When asked what advice she had for people wanting to fish Valdez, Finley replies, “Keep working hard, and you should be able to catch your fish.”

In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Natalie Cevasco of Fairbanks is leading with a 205.0-pound halibut she caught August 8. Gary Nygren of Westminster, MD is currently in second place with a 198.2-pound halibut and Dennis Moore of Bremerton, Washington is currently in third place with the 190.4-pound halibut he caught July 13.

Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby WINNERS

1^st           Lindy Vititow                    Valdez, AK                          12.00 lbs.                           Aug 10

2^nd          Debra Lancaster             Valdez, AK                          11.38 lbs.                           Aug 10

3^rd           Julie Anderson                 Wasilla, AK                        11.26 lbs.                           Aug 10

Valdez Silver Salmon Derby Overall Leaders

1^st           Joel Stephens                   Ardmore, OK                     13.02 lbs.           Aug 2                    No Name

2^nd          Pam Rameau                    Houston, TX                      12.94 lbs.           July 27                  Faithful

3^rd           Lindy Vitatow                   Valdez, AK                          12.00 lbs.           Aug 10 

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st           Natalie Cevasco             Fairbanks, AK                   205.0 lbs.           Aug 8                    Getting Some
2^nd          Gary Nygren                      Westminster, MD           198.2 lbs.           Aug 3                    Sentinel
3^rd           Dennis Moore                  Bremerton, WA                190.4 lbs.           July 13                  Dan Orion