Valdez Silver Derby Featuring Productive Action, Changing Leaderboard

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

THE SILVER SALMON ARE BACK! – WOMEN’S SILVER DERBY AUGUST 9th

VALDEZ, Alaska – The silver salmon derby leaders are changing almost daily. Jason Galbraith of Edgewood, New Mexico caught an 11.74-pound silver salmon July 24^th and said it was a marvelous day. It was his first time in Alaska. “Lots of fun, lots of fish, friends and family …wow!” Galbraith said. When asked what was going through his mind with an 11.74-pound fish on the line he said, “I was totally blown away!.” Galbraith stands to win $10,000 if his salmon holds on through the end of the derby August 31^st.

When asked if the silver salmon are running in Valdez, Orrin Lee of Caldwell, Idaho replied, “Yes, ma’am, they’re in and running hot and heavy. Lee caught a 10.40-pound silver salmon on July 20^th and won a 2^nd place daily prize in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby. “We limited out in about an hour,” Lee said.

Every day since the Silver Salmon Derby started, the silver salmon winning the 1^st place prize has weighed at least 10-pounds. When asked what was working to catch the silvers, Lee responded, “We were using several different things, and they were hitting on all of it.” In addition to picking up their limit of silver salmon, Lee said they also reeled in ling cod, rockfish, halibut, king salmon and even three sharks.

Last week, the small town of Valdez was teaming with kids catching pink salmon from the shores of Allison Point and from boats in the Port. With the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby underway, the focus this past week was trolling for silvers in Prince William Sound. The first fish to hit the leader board in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby was a 10.28-pound silver caught by JC Koss of Fort Myers Beach, Florida. In the past few years, the $10,000 grand prize derby winning fish has not been that big. Last year Tony Cunninham of Valdez won the top prize with a 13.76-pound fish. With fish tipping the scales at close to 12-pounds early in the season and anglers returning with limits, this season promises to be the most plentiful in years.

There are a few reports of silvers being caught by Goose Island and Knowles Head, but most are getting picked up outside of Valdez toward Glacier Island. The silver fishing should be excellent for the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby August 9^th. Valdez Fish Derbies will give cash and prizes to the Women catching the three biggest fish. Registration is going on at the Valdez Prospector August 6^th through 9^th. Derby anglers purchase a ticket for the regular derby, in addition to the $30 fee for Women’s Derby, so they will be eligible for prizes in the regular derby as well as the Women’s Derby. The Women’s Derby Grand Prize is $1,000 cash plus Prospector Prizes valued at $1,000. This year’s Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby theme is “Flower Power – Peace, Love & Fishing” and a Treasure Hunt will be part of the fun during the opening on Friday, August 8^th. CLICK HERE for Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby information. 

In the Valdez Halibut Derby, the leading fish is a 210-pound halibut caught by James Cook of Bremerton, Washington. Currently in 2^nd place is Mel Grove of Palmer, Alaska with a 185.4-pound halibut and Kreed Jones of Chugiak, Alaska is currently in 3^rd place overall with a 177.8-pound halibut. While fishing for halibut, anglers are also hooking into trophy size lingcod and rockfish.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st           James Cook                    Bremerton, WA             210.0 lbs.         July 19                Dan Orion
2^nd          Mel Grove                         Palmer, AK                        185.4 lbs.         July 5                   Mel Fare
3^rd          Kreed Jones                     Chugiak, AK                    177.8 lbs.         July 2                   Hofshore

Silver Salmon Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st           Addyson Lyons                             Post Falls, ID                  12.34 lbs.         July 25                Lyons Den
2^nd          Jason Galbraith                            Edgewood, MN                             11.74 lbs.         July 24                                 Kai Moana
3^rd          Alan Waldo                      Delta Jct., AK                  11.54 lbs.         July 20                Sea Master