Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby Registration Open

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

VALDEZ, Alaska –There are a few changes this year, but the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby is happening and a Queen will be crowned. Valdez Fish Derbies will give cash and prizes to the Women catching the three biggest fish. Leaders for the day will be posted at weigh-in and derby officials are asking that only those with a fish close to the top weight go to the weigh-in in order to minimize the number of people at weigh-in. Registration is going on at the Valdez Prospector August 1^st through August 8^th. 

The current leader in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is an 11.48 pound fish caught by James Sayre of Valdez. The 2^nd place leader is BJ Williams of Barron Wisconsin with a 11.36 pound silver and 3^rd place is being held by Steve Tuttle of Anchorage with an 11.34 pound silver. The grand prize for the largest silver salmon caught in Valdez is $5,000 cash. Women’s Derby anglers purchase a ticket for the regular derby, in addition to the $20 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.

There will be no in-person events for the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby, but Door Prizes will be announced on the Women’s Derby Page of the Valdez Fish Derbies website and Women will get a small gift and can register for one of three prize packages at registration. Check the leader boards just below the Harbor Masters Office and on the weigh-in shack. 

The halibut coming into the weigh-in station have been sizeable since the start of the derby and this week was no exception. Jason Long of Fairbanks reeled in a 179.2 pound halibut aboard the Halibut Grove. His fish was just shy of the top three overall, but was large enough to win the 1^st place weekly prizes. Jay Jeppson of St. George, Utah took 2^nd place for the week with a 166.4 pound halibut caught July 31^st. Although his fish didn’t stay on the leader board for long, Ryan McCune reeled in a 129.8 pound halibut out by Wessels Reef. “We had an awesome day out there,” McCune said. “It was really nice. Waves were really small and we had a good time catching big fish all day.”

In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Jim Rothenbuhler of Salcha, Alaska is leading with a 201.2 pound fish he caught June 23^rd. Kenny Tussey of North Pole is currently in 2^nd place with a 193.4 pound halibut caught July 5^th and Andy Eiman of Valdez is holding onto 3^rd place with a 180.4 pound halibut he caught July 18^th. The Halibut derby runs through September 6^th. More information on Valdez Halibut Derby can be found at: www.valdezfishderbies.com.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st         Jim Rothenbuhler          Salcha, AK                   201.2 lbs.         June 23            The Bucketlist

2^nd        Kenny Tussey              North Pole, AK            193.4 lbs.         July 5               Dan Orion

3^rd        Andy Eiman                 Valdez, AK                   180.4 lbs.         July 18             Crista June

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners

1^st                Jason  Long                  Fairbanks, AK              179.2 lbs.         July 29             Halibut Grove
2^nd        Jay Jeppson                  St. George, UT              166.4 lbs.         July 31             The Reflection

Silver Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st        James Sayre                   Valdez, AK                 11.48 lbs.         July 25               Rental VO
2^nd        BJ Williams                     Barron, WI                 11.36 lbs.         July 30             Kai Moana
3^rd        Steve Tuttle                  Anchorage, AK            11.34 lbs.         July 31             Reflection