Valdez Halibut Derby Update: Early Big Fish Still Ahead And In Position To Take Hullabaloo Bonus

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

115.6-POUND HALIBUT CAUGHT ON JIGGING ROD WINS WEEKLY PRIZE

VALDEZ, Alaska – Kyle Perry of North Pole reeled in a 76-pound halibut aboard the Sentinel last Thursday and moments later Thomas Rakowski II of Valdez hooked into a 115.6-pound halibut the minute his bait on his jigging rod hit the bottom. Both anglers managed to get their catch into the boat and Rakowski took 1^st place for the week in the Valdez Halibut Derby.

Rakowski said he knew it was a good catch as soon as it hit but knew it might be a derby contender when it was pulled over the side and he saw the captains reaction. Rakowski said they had a slow morning for halibut but caught quite a few black cod before deciding to pick up and move to another spot. 

Rakowski won the 1^st place weekly prize in the Valdez Halibut Derby but fell short of making the overall standings. Robert Hubert II of Wasilla is currently leading the Halibut Derby with a 140-pound fish he caught on May 25 aboard the Hofshore. Robert Moloney of Fairbanks is currently in 2^nd place with a 130.4-pound halibut he caught aboard the Sentinel and Dolly Haddow of Valdez is hanging onto 3^rd place with a 117-pound halibut she caught aboard the Sea Master. Corey Petersen of Valdez won the 2^nd place weekly prize with a 97.4-pound halibut.

The 10-day Halibut Hullabaloo tournament kicked off Friday and Corey Petersen of Valdez stands to win $1,000 cash in addition to the regular Valdez Halibut Derby prizes if his 97.4-pound fish hangs on to be the largest caught between June 6 and 15. With charters going out every day and the temperature and weather expected to improve midweek, the odds of a 97.4-pound halibut hanging on is a long shot, but anything is possible in the Valdez Fish Derbies. There is no additional fee to participate in the Halibut Hullabaloo Tournament or the Silver Derby Slam Tournaments as a regular derby ticket is all that is needed to qualify for the additional cash prizes.

While halibut derby anglers will be competing hard for the Halibut Hullabaloo prize and an opportunity to get on the overall leader board, salmon anglers are writing dates on their calendar. The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon is slated for Saturday, July 19. The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby is free and open to kids aged 5 to 16.

The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby will start July 19 and run through August 31. In addition to daily prizes in the Silver Salmon Derby, salmon anglers can win big money during the new “Salmon Slam” Contest August 22 through 31. The angler catching the largest silver salmon during this time will win $1,000 in addition to derby prizes. The Women’s Silver Salmon Derby is on August 10 with an opening event on August 9. For more information on the derbies, events, or standings, visit www.valdezfishderbies.com.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st        Robert Hubert II                              Wasilla, AK                      140.0 lbs.         May 25^th             Hofshore
2^nd            Robert Moloney                              Fairbanks, AK                 130.4 lbs.         May 24^th             Sentinel
3^rd        Dolly Haddow                                 Valdez, AK                        117.0 lbs.         May 25^th             Sea Master

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners – Week #1

1^st        Thomas Rakowski II                     Valdez, AK                        115.6 lbs.         June 5^th               Sentinel
2^nd            Corey Petersen                              Valdez, AK                        97.4 lbs.            June 6^th               Sentinel