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 50th 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 3rd at the Prospector in Valdez and will continue through Saturday, August 10th 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 1st place Women’s Derby prize, it also held on to capture 3rd place in the overall Silver Salmon Derby. CLICK HERE to visit the Women’s Derby registration page at www.valdezfishderbies.com.
The 1st 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 2nd place silver in 2018 was caught by Daniel Schneider of Anchorage, Alaska who reeled his fish in August 4th.
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 6thaboard 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 24th aboard the Sea Quester. Holding on to third place is Joshua Curry of Valdez with a 213.4 pound Halibut he caught on July 21st aboard the Mistress.
Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Christine Ives Fairbanks, AK 285.6 lbs. June 6 Nunatak
2nd Christopher Barnes Moorhead, MN 225.6 lbs. June 24 Sea Quester
3rd Joshua Curry Valdez, AK 213.4 lbs. July 21 Mistress
Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners
1st Sean Brewer Fairbanks, AK 201.2 lbs. July 29 Sea Hunter
2nd Leo McDonnell Columbus, MT 108.4 lbs. Aug 3 Reflection
Silver Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Keith Herve North Pole, AK 12.24 lbs. Aug 3 Chinook
2nd Wayne Tuttle Pepperell, MA 11.68 lbs. July 23 Alaskai
3rd Janet Lehman Lexington, SC 11.44 lbs. July 30 Orion