Valdez Celebrates Kids With Pink Salmon Derby

The following press release is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

VALDEZ, Alaska – Liliana Garcia has fished the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby many times, but Saturday was not the first time she has made it into the standings. Garcia reeled in a 7.80 pound pink salmon to win 1^st place in the 8 to 10 year-old age division and caught the largest fish in the 2018 Kids Derby. “I was a bit surprised when I saw it”, commented Garcia. “There are very talented children here. I was actually surprised I caught that big of a fish.”

Garcia not only caught the largest fish in this year’s derby, she made it on the list of top 10 biggest pink salmon caught since the start of the derby in 2012. Garcia said she caught her winning fish using a pixie out by Potato Point. She said her favorite part of fishing is spending time with her family and helping to cook the fish. Her advice for anglers, “You just have to keep trying and believe in yourself.”

(CLICK HERE for all results. Scroll to bottom of the page to see Top 10 All Time) Garcia won a longboard as the 1^st place winner in the 8 to 10 year-old age division. Noah McPheters won 1^st place in the 5 to 7 year old division with a 6.78 pound pink. Alex Plowman, who holds the distinction of catching the largest pink salmon ever caught in the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby last year (a whopping 10.12 pounds) took 1^stplace in the 11 to 13 year-old age division with a 7.32 pound pink salmon and Anthony Hursh of Fairbanks took 1^st place in the 14 to 16 year-old age division with a 6.88 pound silver salmon.

The first place winner in each division won a longboard skateboard. The 2^nd place winners in each division received a skateboard and the 3^rd place winners in each division received fishing gear from Prospector.

The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby is a free event open to kids age 5 to 16. The weigh-in station gave away 350 free t-shirts to kids age 5 to 16 that got a line wet and hosted a free family barbeque attended by 500 people at Dock Point picnic area.

Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby – 2018 Winners

5 to 7 Age Division

1^st        Noah McPheters                      Valdez, AK                  6.78 lbs.
2^nd        Maycie Johnson                       Tanacross, AK             6.20 lbs.
3^rd        Aslynn Folly                            Palmer, AK                  6.04 lbs.

8 to 10 Age Division

1^st        Liliana Garcia                          Fairbanks, AK             7.80 lbs.
2^nd        Sammy Huffman                     Valdez, AK                  7.04 lbs.
3^rd        JD Lyons                                 Delta Junction, AK      6.72 lbs.

11 to 13 Age Division

1^st        Alex Plowman                         Fairbanks, AK             7.32 lbs.
2^nd        Madison Spencer                     Fairbanks, AK             6.48 lbs.
3^rd        Alina Kockentiet                      Valdez, AK                  6.28 lbs.

14 to 16 Age Division

1^st        Anthony Hursh                                    Fairbanks, AK             6.88 lbs.
2^nd        Abby Creer                              North Pole, AK                        6.38 lbs.
3^rd        Brad Baker                              Salcha, AK                  6.34 lbs.

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