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 “Circus”.
Registration for the Women’s Derby started August 4 th at the Prospector and will continue through Saturday, August 11th 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 Chinda Heston of Valdez, Alaska won the Derby and was crowned Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood with a 14.88 pound silver salmon. The biggest silver salmon caught in the Women’s Derby was an 18.84 pound silver caught by Betty Valdes of Eagle River in 2010.
CLICK HERE to visit the Women’s Derby registration page at www.valdezfishderbies.com .
Often times the winner of the Women’s Derby breaks into the Regular Silver Salmon Derby standings. 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 16.64 pound silver caught by Daniel Schneider on August 4 th . The largest silver salmon caught in the Women’s Derby was an 18.84 pound silver caught by Betty Valdes of Eagle River in 2010.
In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Patricia Johnson of Clovis, California holds first place with a 285.6 pound halibut she caught on July 26 aboard the Harvester. Second place overall in the Valdez Halibut Derby is Doug Cranor of Valdez with a 239.0 pound halibut he caught on June 23 rd aboard the Redhead. Holding on to third place is Russell Young of Fairbanks with a 226.0 pound Halibut he caught on June 23 rd aboard the Dan Orion.
Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1 st Patricia Johnson Clovis, CA 285.8 lbs. July 26 Harvester
2 nd Doug Cranor Valdez, AK 239.0 lbs. June 23 Redhead
3 rd Russell Young Fairbanks, AK 226.0 lbs. June 23 Dan Orion
Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners
1 st Kyle Lucey Wasilla, AK 95.8 lbs. July 30 Jaime Lynn
2 nd Martin Mykkanen Andogh, MN 87.4 lbs. July 30 Halibut Grove
Silver Derby – Overall Leaders
1 st Daniel Schneider Anchorage, AK 16.64 lbs. Aug 4 Sea Duck
2 nd Tom Karlsten St. Cloud, FL 16.40 lbs. Aug 4 Long Shot
3 rd Darlene Juve Decorah, IA 14.98 lbs. July 24 Orion