Valdez Silver Salmon Derby Winner Takes Home $11,500 Prize With Late Big Fish

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

AGER THURMOND WINS $11,500 IN FINAL WEEK OF VALDEZ SILVER DERBY

VALDEZ, Alaska – Jager Thurmond of Wasilla has been fishing Valdez for years but said this is the first time he has bought a derby ticket. And he said this is the only fish he has caught this year. “My favorite thing to do is watch everybody else,” said Thurmond. “I was supposed to be running the boat and everyone else was eating sandwiches and I just happened to grab the pole. I just got lucky.” Thurmond was fishing on his own boat August 27^thwhen he hooked into the 15.32-pound silver salmon that won him $10,000 and he also picked up $1,000 for winning the Silver Salmon Slam tournament and a $500 Captain’s prize. Thurmond said he would likely use the money to visit the laws for Christmas, get something for himself for hunting and something nice for his wife. He caught his winning fish near the narrows early in the day and didn’t bring it back to get weighed until about 7:30pm. “I was guessing it was around 13-pounds”, Thurmond said. “We had it in the cooler the whole day and once we got to the harbor the lady that weighs fish was like, ‘That’s a pretty good one.’

Addyson Lyons from Post Falls, Idaho, who won the Women’s Silver Salmon Derby, stayed in the lead for the regular derby through August 24^th, and ended up in 2^nd place overall. Her 2^nd place finish won her $3,000 cash. Lyons also won $100 in the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby, won $500 for catching the largest fish for Big Prize Friday and won $1,000 in cash and $1,000 in prizes for the Women’s Silver Salmon Derby. Not a bad summer for a 12-year-old. Barrett Wells of Valdez took 3^rd place in the Silver Salmon Derby and won $1,500 cash for the 14.76-pound fish he caught from shore.

In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Lloyd Fanter of Eagle River took home $10,000 for 1^st place with a 264.8-pound halibut caught August 13^th. James Cook of Bremerton, Washington won $3,000 with a 210-pound halibut he caught on July 19^th and Richard Current of Oroville, California took 3^rd place and won $1,500 in the Halibut Derby with a 206.6-pound halibut.

Over the course of the summer, close to 30 weekly winners took home prizes in the Valdez Halibut Derby and more than 40 anglers took home daily Silver Salmon Derby prizes. Valdez Fish Derbies also awarded two anglers $500 for “Big Prize Friday”, awarded Halibut Hullabaloo tournament winner Grant Klemp of Iola, Washington $1,000, gave away cash and prizes to 12 winners in the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby and crowned 12-year-old Addyson Lyons the Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood during the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby. A list of all the 2025 winners the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby, Halibut Derby, Women’s Derby, Big Prize Friday, and Tagged Fish Contest can be found at www.valdezfishderbies.com. 

The Valdez Fish Derbies are run by a non-profit committee of seven individuals that live and work in Valdez. This year’s Derby Coordinator Dana Morales was instrumental in soliciting sponsors, managing weigh-in, handling office derbies and putting on events. Ricky Colapietro was MVP of website updates, and the weigh-in staff and volunteers were amazing. Sponsors came through with support and tremendous prizes for 2025. Valdez Fish Derbies generates funds through ticket sales, sponsorships and event and merchandise sales. Revenues go toward cash prizes, operations, and marketing Valdez as a fishing destination.

Valdez Silver Salmon Derby Overall Winners

1^st           Jager Thurmond           Wasilla, AK                                      15.32 lbs.         August 24         Bear n Shrimp

2^nd          Addyson Lyons             Post Falls, AK                                 15.14 lbs.         August 9            Lyons Den
3^rd          Barrett Wells                  Valdez, AK                                        14.76 lbs.         August 27         Off Shore

Halibut Derby – Overall Winners

1^st           Lloyd Fanter                    Eagle River, AK                               264.8 lbs.         Aug 13                Chugach Girl

2^nd          James Cook                    Bremerton, WA                             210.0 lbs.         July 19                Dan Orion

3^rd          Mel Grove                         Palmer, AK                                        185.4 lbs.         July 5                   Mel Fare

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