SILVER SALMON DERBY HEATING UP, BIG PRIZE FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1ST

VALDEZ, Alaska – Last year, the top three fish in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby were caught from shore. Jacob Marquardt of Valdez reeled in his 1^st place 17.52 pound silver on September 1^st in the Boat Harbor. John Neitzeke of Grand Rapids, Minnesota reeled in his 2^nd place 17.26 pound silver September 1^st at Allison Point. Dawn Osmonson-Sturm also reeled in her 3^rd place fish at Allison Point. Osmonson-Sturm is from Waukee, Iowa and her 17.18 pound silver was reeled in August 30^th.

While the run of silver salmon in Valdez was much stronger in Valdez than the past two years, small silver salmon populated the Valdez Fish Derbies leader board until recently. The current leaders in the silver derby are:

Cole Baxter of Fayetteville, GA with a 15.62 pound fish is leading the derby. Homer Huffman of Valdez with a 15.10 pound silver is currently in 2^nd place overall and Randy Arndt of Wasilla is currently in 3^rd place with a 14.98 pound silver salmon. First place in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is $15,000 cash, 2^nd place is $5,000 and 3^rd place is $2,000. The Valdez Silver Salmon derby ends Sunday, September 3^rd at noon.

In the Valdez Halibut Derby it is still Frieda Wiley at the top of the leader board with the record 374 pound halibut she caught August 6^th aboard the Dan Orion.

This Friday, anglers will have a chance to win an additional $500 during Big Prize Friday. The person who buys a derby ticket and brings in the biggest silver salmon Friday, September 3^rd will win $500 in cash in addition to the daily prizes. The Valdez Halibut and Silver Salmon Derbies end Sunday, September 3^rd at noon. The raffle for $10,000 cash will be held that day after the close of the derby. Everyone who purchased a Valdez derby ticket will be entered in that drawing.

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st        Frieda Wiley                Valdez, AK                  374.0 lbs.         Aug 6               Dan Orion
2^nd        Tim Stadtmiller                        Fairbanks, AK             266.6 lbs.         June 19                        Dan Orion
3^rd        Brett Fickler                 Omaha, NE                  197.4 lbs.         Aug 18             Lena Claire

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners

1^st           Brett Fickler                 Omaha, NE                  197.4 lbs.         Aug 18             Lena Claire
2^nd        Mitch Wallace             Corpus Christi, TX      164.4 lbs.         Aug 18            Sea Quester

Silver Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st        Cole Baxter                 Fayetteville, GA         15.62 lbs.         July 26             Shark Tooth Charter
2^nd      Homer Huffman        Valdez, Alaska            15.10 lbs.         August 25       Off Shore
3^rd       Randy Arndt               Wasilla, AK                14.98 lbs.         August 26       Miss Esther

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