Valdez Derbies Update: Kids Pink Salmon Derby Set For July 25

Pink Salmon Showing Up In Small Numbers, Kids Derby July 25

VALDEZ, Alaska – The sea lions are starting to show up at the salmon hatchery in Valdez and that means that pink salmon are starting to arrive. The pink salmon are a bit late and Valdez Fisheries Development Association (VFDA) posted that the numbers of pink salmon returning is low for this time of year, and they expect to continue monitoring fish for cost recovery. Justin Prax of Prospector Outfitters said the first report he got of a pink salmon being caught from shore was on July 7^th. Prax said Charter Captains are reporting the fish are getting denser out by the narrows and many of them are jumping in the arm. “They’re just a little way behind where they were last year, but they’re coming,” Prax said.

A lot of young anglers will be hoping to catch a pink salmon on Saturday, July 25^th for the Kids Pink Salmon Derby. Anglers can fish from shore or from a boat in this one-day derby. Allison Point is easily accessible by car and can be fished with a simple pixie or spinner. The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby is free for kids aged 5 to 16 and $100 cash and other prizes are awarded in four different categories.

After a day of fishing out of Port Valdez, kids can enter the pink derby by submitting pictures on the Valdez Fish Derbies website for a chance to win prizes. Kids can qualify for the derby by picking up a FREE Valdez Fish Derbies hat between 6am and 10am this Saturday at the Valdez Fish Derbies weigh-in station. Anglers need to take a picture of themselves with the hat and a pink salmon caught in Valdez Saturday and post on the Valdez Fish Derbies website by 10pm the day of the Kids Derby for a chance to win. Winners will be chosen at random.

Kids in 5^th to 8^th grade will broadcast a LIVE Kids Derby Radio Show from 5pm to 6pm Saturday, July 25^th on 93.3FM & 1230AM KVAK. The show will also be streamed LIVE on the KVAK Radio App (which can be downloaded from the Apple App or Google Play Store) and can be streamed from a computer at www.kvakradio.com. Kids will take over the studio and take callers aged 5 to 16 to play games and win prizes like ice cream. One lucky caller will win 10 pounds of Jellybeans.

This Saturday is also the start of the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby. Anglers of all ages want a chance to catch the largest silver in Valdez and take home the $10,000 Valdez Fish Derbies 1^st place prize can buy a derby ticket, get a line wet and give it a try. The Silver Derby 2^nd place prize is $3,000 and 3^rd place overall is $1,500 cash. Valdez Fish Derbies will also award daily 1^st and 2^nd place prizes July 25^th through September 6^th for the largest Silver Salmon caught each day. Starting July 25^th the weigh-in station will be open 1pm to 8pm.

In the Valdez Halibut Derby Ashley Lodes of Port Charlotte, Florida took the first place weekly prize and is currently in 3^rd place in the overall derby standings. Lodes caught a 143.8-pound halibut aboard the Nunatak. Her Dad, Daniel Lodes won the 2^nd place weekly prize in the Halibut Derby.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st          Shane Miller                    Fairbanks, AK                 184.6 lbs.         July 19                Devil Dog

2^nd          Brett Nelson                   Palmer, AK                        143.8 lbs.         June 29              Dan Orion

3^rd          Ashley Lodes                  Port Charlotte, FL        143.8 lbs.         July 11                Nunatak

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners – July 6^th through 12^th

1^st           Ashley Lodes                  Port Charlotte, FL        143.8 lbs.         July 11                Nunatak

2^nd          Daniel Lodes                  Willow, AK                        138.6 lbs.         July 11                Nunatak

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