Valdez Halibut Derby Gets Started With 67-Pound Weekly Winner

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

VALDEZ, Alaska – The Valdez Halibut Derby kicked off Saturday, May 27th with anglers excited to get their lines in the water. Johnathan Johnson of Anchorage holds 1st place weekly and overall, with the very first fish weighed for the 2023 season, a 67.8-pound halibut caught May 27th aboard the Big Fish. 2nd and 3rd place overall has yet to be claimed, but it’s a great time to get a derby ticket and drop a hook in Prince William Sound.

Johnathan Johnson of Anchorage was the first weekly winner in the Valdez Halibut Derby.


The grand prize for catching the largest fish in the Valdez Halibut Derby is $10,000 cash. The 2nd place prize is $3,000 and 3rd place is $1,500. Halibut derby anglers can also win weekly 1stand 2nd place prizes in the derby. The Halibut Hullabaloo is slated for June 2nd through 11th. The angler catching the largest halibut during this period will win $1,000 in addition to the daily prizes. Weekly prizes include tours, accommodations and retail gift certificates, fishing charters, and Valdez Fish Derbies apparel.  

Valdez Fish Derbies will also hold a “Tagged Fish Contest” August 11th through September 3rd. If an angler catches a tagged silver salmon during that time period and turns it into the Valdez Fish Derbies weigh-in shack, they win cash or prizes. There will be one tagged silver salmon worth $10,000. All silver salmon derby rules apply for the “Tagged Fish Contest” and rules and more information can be found at www.valdezfishderbies.com

The Valdez Silver Salmon derby begins Saturday, July 22nd and features prizes for the two biggest fish caught each day as well as prizes for the three biggest fish overall. The grand prize for catching the largest fish in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is $10,000 cash. The 2nd place prize is $3,000 and 3rd place is $1,500. Big Prize Fridays are scheduled for July 28th as well as September 1st. The angler catching the biggest fish on Big Prize Friday will win $500 cash in addition to the regular daily prizes.

The Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby is Saturday,  August 12th and the Valdez Kid’s Pink Salmon Derby is Saturday, July 22nd. For weigh-in hours, ticket vendor locations, and more at www.valdezfishderbies.com. Media inquiries can be directed to valdeznews@kvakmedia.com.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1st        Johnathan Johnson        North Pole, AK              67.8 lbs.           May 27            Big Fish

2Halibut Derby – Weekly Leaders – Week #1

1st        Johnathan Johnson        North Pole, AK              67.8 lbs.           May 27            Big Fish