New Leader In Valdez Halibut Derby

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

VALDEZ, Alaska – Silver Salmon are moving closer to Valdez and competition in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is expected to get fierce in the final weeks. Alisa Mac Innes of Tampa, Florida still has the largest salmon on the board with the 14.88 pound silver she caught August 8th. John Oliver of Fairbanks is a close 2^nd with a 14.42 pound silver he caught last Friday and Charles Young of Fairbanks reeled in a 14.20 pound silver the same day aboard a different boat to land himself in 3^rd place in the overall standings. 

A 14.88 silver is a respectable fish but far from the weight of the fish that have taken home first place over the last few years. The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby features a daily 1^st and 2^nd place prize and the majority of daily winners have been in the 11 to 13 pound range. With the derby running through September 6^th, there’s a good chance the $5,000 derby winner is still swimming in Prince William Sound. 

The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby began in 1971 and the smallest winning fish on record in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby was a 15.11 pound salmon caught that first year by Jim Burzinski. In the last 30 years of the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby, only three fish in the 15 pound range have won the derby. Only six fish weighing in at the 16 pound range have won the big money in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby. The vast majority of winners have weighed in at 17 to 21 pounds. The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby runs through Sunday, September 6^th at noon and there are prizes for the top 3 fish as well as daily prize winners. 

In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Mickia Cenker is the new leader on the board with a 224 pound catch August 16^th aboard the Halibut Grove. Cenker knocks Jim Rothenbuhler to 2^nd place in the overall standings. Rothenbuhler, caught a 201.2 pound halibut almost two months ago on June 23^rd. Andy Eiman of Valdez is currently 3^rd place in the halibut derby with a 180.4 pound flatfish caught July 18 aboard the Crista June. 

Silver salmon fishing has been productive at Gold Creek and Mineral Creek. The final weeks of the derby should be good fishing from shore as well as from a boat. Both the Valdez Halibut and Silver Salmon derbies will end at noon on Sunday, September 6^th.  

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st        Mickia Cenker            Fairbanks, AK            224.0 lbs.         Aug 16            Halibut Grove
2^nd       Jim Rothenbuhler        Salcha, AK                 201.2 lbs.         July 5              The Bucket List
3^rd        Kenny Tussey             North Pole, AK           193.4 lbs.         July 5             Dan Orion

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners

1^st                Terrence McCabe         Valdez, AK                  173.0 lbs.         Aug 13             Private
2^nd        David Scott                  Valdez, AK                  162.0 lbs.         Aug 9               Deep Sea Angel

Silver Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st        Alisa Mac Innes           Tampa, FL                   14.88 lbs.         Aug 7               Josie Whales
2^nd        John Oliver                  Fairbanks, AK              14.42 lbs.         Aug 14             Nseafish Nt Funds        
3^rd        Charles Young             Fairbanks, AK              14.20 lbs.         Aug 14             Reel Dreams