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Fishing
97 POUND HALIBUT LEADS DERBY AFTER FIRST WEEKEND

VALDEZ, Alaska – Several feet of snow still stand on the lawns and gardens of Valdez, but a little bit of late snow did not deter anglers in the Valdez Halibut Derby. Justin Hoppe of Valdez hit Prince William Sound aboard Dan Orion charters and returned with a 97 pound halibut on Sunday to take an early lead in the derby. Shawn Shipman of Whitehorse was also aboard the Dan Orion on Sunday and picked up a 70.4 pound halibut. Hoppe and Shipman are currently leading the derby and are in line to win the weekly first and second place prizes in the Halibut Derby if their fish stay atop the leaderboard until the derby week closes Saturday. 

Greg Davis of Westminster, Colorado weighed in the first halibut in the Valdez Derbies on Saturday. “He was visiting from Colorado and really excited about his fish”, commented Derby Weigh-In Coordinator Bonnie Woods.

Charter Captains in Valdez are preparing for a busy season as anglers have high hopes of being the winner of the $15,000 first place prize in the Valdez Halibut Derby. A ticket costs $10 for the day or $50 for the season and must be purchased before heading out on the water. Ticket sale locations can be found at www.valdezfishderbies.com. The limit for halibut in Prince William Sound is still two per person and weigh-in for the derby is open 3pm until 8pm at the derby shack located kitty corner from the Harbormasters office.

In addition to the grand prize of $15,000, 2nd place prize of $5,000 and 3rd place of $2,000 for catching the largest three fish, halibut derby anglers can also win weekly 1st and 2nd place prizes in the derby. Again, this year the Valdez Fish Derbies will award a 4x4 F-150 truck to one lucky participant of the derby. Every $10 spent on a ticket is an entry to win the truck regardless of whether anglers catch a fish or not (season ticket is five entries).

The Halibut Hullaballoo fishing dates have been set for June14th through the 23rd and the angler catching the largest halibut during that time period will win $1,000 cash in addition to the weekly prizes and any overall prizes they might qualify for.

The Kids Pink Salmon Derby has been set for July 20th and the event has gotten bigger each year. The Silver Salmon Derby in Valdez will again boast a $15,000 first place prize and daily prizes. The Annual Valdez Women’s Derby is slated for Saturday, August 10th with an opening ceremony Friday, August 9th and the closing ceremony Saturday night.
 
There will be a $500 prize for the vendor and operator selling the winning derby ticket in both derbies. Every derby ticket purchased for either the halibut or silver salmon derbies is entered for a chance to win a truck from Seekins Ford that will be on display in Valdez.
For more information on the Valdez Derbies, visit: www.valdezfishderbies.com
Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1st        Justin Hoppe               Valdez, AK                 97.0 lbs.           May 19            Dan Orion
2nd        Shawn Shipman          Whitehorse, YT           70.4 lbs.           May 19            Dan Orion
3rd        Greg Davis                  Westminster, CO        25.0 lbs.           May 18            Private Boat
 
Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners – Week #1
1st        Justin Hoppe               Valdez, AK                 97.0 lbs.           May 19            Dan Orion
2nd        Shawn Shipman          Whitehorse, YT           70.4 lbs.           May 19            Dan Orion
 
2013 Derby Dates

Halibut Derby
May 18 - Sep 1, 2013
Halibut Hullabaloo
June 14th - June 23rd, 2013
Kids' Pink Salmon Derby
July 20, 2013
Silver Salmon Derby
July 20 - Sep 1, 2013
Women's Silver Salmon Derby
Aug 10, 2013
Silver Big Prize Fridays
July 26 & Aug 30, 2013
Visit www.valdezfishderbies.com for more details.

 

 
NORTH POLE MAN WINS $15,000 IN VALDEZ HALIBUT DERBY
VALDEZ – A 264 pound halibut reeled in by Calvin Carr just a week before the end of the Valdez Halibut Derby held on to take the $15,000 first place prize at the close of the derby Sunday. Carr caught his halibut aboard the Otter Dodger on August 26th. A group of about 70 gathered at the Elks Lodge for the awards ceremony and to watch the truck drawing. Everyone who purchased a derby ticket had a chance to win a 4x4 Ford F-150, but when the ticket was drawn, it was Maliwan Turner of Valdez who drove home the prize.

In the halibut derby, Bill Kelly took home $5,000 for second place with a 237.7 pound halibut he reeled in August 28th aboard the Victorious. Mike Burke of Henderson, Nevada took 3rd place and won $2,000 cash with the 233 pound halibut he caught August 12 while fishing aboard the Dan Orion.

Diana Doodchenko of Canada caught her 17.88 pound silver salmon July 25th and was doubtful it would hang on to take the 1st place prize of $15,000 in the Silver Salmon Derby. Doodchenko’s husband had a 3 x 5 picture printed in Valdez of his wife with her fish because he said he had a tradition of framing his wife’s prize fishing catches. As it turns out, this fish will provide much more than a memory. Tom Parker of Billings, Montana won 2nd place and $5,000 in the silver derby with a 16.70 pound silver he caught August 18th and Joel Brown of Valdez brought home the 3rd place prize of $2,000 cash for the 16.10 pound silver he caught August 15th.

The $500 cash prize for the charter captain taking out the winning halibut angler went to Dennis Petri of the Otter Dodger who said he was planning to give the money to his granddaughter who worked as his deck hand this summer. Nancy Meador won the $500 prize for selling the ticket to Calvin Carr. Dan Eames won $500 for being Diana Doodchenko’s Captain July 25th and Greg Kern of Fish Central won the $500 ticket seller’s prize for the silver derby.

2012 Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Calvin Carr 264.0 lbs.
2nd Bill Kelly 237.7 lbs.
3rd Mike Burke 233.0 lbs.
2012 Silver Overall Standings
1st Diana Doodehenko 17.88 lbs.
2nd Tom Parker 16.70 lbs.
3rd Geoff Wooding 16.38 lbs.

 

2012 Kids Pink Salmon Derby Winner, Theron Lee