Women’s Silver Derby On Tap In Valdez

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

VALDEZ, Alaska – Anglers will hit the waters of Port Valdez and Prince William Sound Saturday during the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby. Saturday evening the winners will be announced, starting with 50^th place and working up to the crowning of the Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood. There will be prizes for the Top 50 fish as well as cash and prizes for the top three biggest fish. The woman who catches the largest silver will be awarded a tiara and signature Women’s Derby pink bathrobe. The theme of this year’s Women’s Derby is “Pajama Party”.

Registration for the Women’s Derby started August 3^rd at the Prospector in Valdez and will continue through Saturday, August 10^th at noon. Friday night Valdez Fish Derbies hosts an opening celebration with door prizes, a costume contest, and games. The waters of Prince William Sound will be full of boats and anglers on Saturday hoping to catch a big one and get to the weigh in station before it closes at 6pm.

The Women’s Silver Salmon Derby closing awards ceremony is Saturday night. Last year Leslie West of Provo, Utah won the Derby and was crowned Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood with a 16.48 pound silver salmon. The silver salmon West caught during the Women’s Derby not only won her the 1^st place Women’s Derby prize, it also held on to capture 3^rd place in the overall Silver Salmon Derby. CLICK HERE to visit the Women’s Derby registration page at www.valdezfishderbies.com.

The 1^st place winner in last year’s Silver Salmon Derby was caught on Women’s Derby day last year by a 7-year old boy from Valdez. Aksel Hutchinson Reeled in a 17.28 pound silver and won the $10,000 first place price. It paid to fish early last year. The 2^nd place silver in 2018 was caught by Daniel Schneider of Anchorage, Alaska who reeled his fish in August 4^th.

To compete in the Women’s Derby, ladies must buy a Silver Salmon Derby daily or season ticket so they are eligible to win the $10,000 first place prize in the regular derby if they catch a big one that holds on to the end of the derby. Currently, the largest Silver Salmon in the regular derby is a 12.24 pound silver caught by Keith Herve of North Pole.

In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Christine Ives of Fairbanks is holding onto first place with a 285.6 pound halibut she caught on June 6^thaboard the Nunatak Second place overall in the Valdez Halibut Derby is Christopher Barnes of Moorhead, Minnesota with a 225.6 pound halibut he caught on June 24^th aboard the Sea Quester. Holding on to third place is Joshua Curry of Valdez with a 213.4 pound Halibut he caught on July 21^st aboard the Mistress.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st        Christine Ives              Fairbanks, AK            285.6 lbs.         June 6              Nunatak
2^nd       Christopher Barnes     Moorhead, MN           225.6 lbs.         June 24            Sea Quester
3^rd        Joshua Curry               Valdez, AK                 213.4 lbs.         July 21            Mistress

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners

1^st                Sean Brewer                 Fairbanks, AK              201.2 lbs.         July 29             Sea Hunter
2^nd        Leo McDonnell            Columbus, MT              108.4 lbs.         Aug 3                Reflection

Silver Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st        Keith Herve                   North Pole, AK            12.24 lbs.         Aug 3               Chinook
2^nd        Wayne Tuttle                     Pepperell, MA           11.68 lbs.         July 23             Alaskai
3^rd        Janet Lehman                 Lexington, SC             11.44 lbs.         July 30              Orion