Valdez Silver Salmon Derby Kicks Off

The following press release is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

VALDEZ, Alaska – The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby started on Saturday and Douglas Meehan of Coweta, Oklahoma reeled in a 9-pound salmon aboard the Game Changer. Meehan’s silver salmon put him on the top of the leader board and netted him the first place daily prize. Audrey Zeren of Dillon, Montana took the second place daily prize Saturday with an 8.52-pound silver she caught aboard SlayingAK. 

The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby runs now through September 1 and features daily 1^st and 2^nd place prizes, as well as a $10,000 Grand prize for the largest silver salmon caught during the season. The cost of a daily derby ticket is $10 and a season ticket is $50. In addition to overall cash prizes and daily 1^st and 2^nd place prize winners, Valdez Fish Derbies will be hosting a Women’s Silver Salmon Derby August 10^th with an opening night Carnival Treasure Hunt event Friday night. Valdez Fish Derbies is also hosting a tagged fish contest. There are 20 fish tagged in Prince William Sound and when an angler buys a derby ticket and catches a tagged silver salmon between August 10 and September 1, they have the chance to win $10,000 cash or 19 other prizes. There will also be a bonus $500 cash prize for the angler catching the largest Silver on Big Prize Friday, July 26^, and September 1.  

On Saturday, the harbor was not only busy with anglers coming to port with halibut and silver salmon, but young anglers competing in the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby. Several anglers at the fillet tables had carts with pink salmon, silver salmon and an occasional king salmon. Others came to Port with carts full of halibut, lingcod, and rockfish. After a rainy week in Valdez, anglers were treated to sunshine and blue skies Saturday.

The Valdez Halibut Derby is going strong and boats are still returning to Port Valdez with nice catches of halibut, lingcod, and other bottom fish. Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) reports that fishing has been good to excellent in the outside waters of Prince William Sound. Lingcod season opened July 1 and anglers are having good success in the Gulf. ADF&G also reported that fishing for Pacific (gray) cod continues to be excellent throughout Prince William Sound and that anglers have been finding schools of pelagic rockfish near the entrances to Prince William Sound. 

Valdez Fish Derbies is now gearing up for the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby. The event will feature a Friday night kickoff event August 10 centered around the theme “Carnival.” Cash and prizes will be awarded for the top 3 largest fish caught Saturday, August 10. Registration is at the Valdez Prospector August 7 through 10.  Women’s Silver Salmon Derby Page on the Valdez Fish Derbies website has all the information. 

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st     Dennis Moore                    Bremerton, WA                 190.4 lbs.          July 13              Dan Orion
2^nd    Jeff Smith                             Tucson, AZ                          160.8 lbs.          June 29              Connie B III
3^rd    Summer Ruge                   Fairbanks, AK                     159.4 lbs.          May 27              Chugach Girl

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners

1^st     Brady Cape                         Mary Esther, FL                 128.6 lbs.          July 14              Dan Orion

2^nd    Kassandra Hall                 Wasilla, AK                         126.6 lbs.          July 14              Tipsea
          

Silver Salmon Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st     Douglas Meehan              Coweta, OK                        9.00 lbs.            July 20              Game Changer
2^nd    Audrey Zeren                     Dillon, MT                            8.52 lbs.            July 20              Slayin’ AK
3^rd    Kristy Meehan                   Coweta, OK                        6.90 lbs.            July 20              Game Changer

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