70.4 – Harlie Lewollen – Anchorage, AK – Nikaitchuq 5-21
VALDEZ, Alaska – The Valdez Halibut Derby kicked off Saturday, May 21st with anglers excited to get their lines in the water. Harlie Lewollen of Anchorage holds 1st place weekly and overall, with the very first fish weighed for the 2022 season, a 70.4-pound halibut caught May 21st aboard the Nikaitchuq. Holding 2nd place for the week as well as overall is John Stevenson of Anchorage with a 62.2-pound halibut caught May 21st aboard the Nikaitchuq. 3rd place overall has yet to be claimed, but it’s a great time to get a derby ticket and drop a hook in Prince William Sound.
The grand prize for catching the largest fish in the Valdez Halibut Derby is $10,000 cash. The 2nd place prize is $3,000 and 3rd place is $1,500. Halibut derby anglers can also win weekly 1st and 2nd place prizes in the derby. The Halibut Hullabaloo is slated for June 3rd through 12th. The angler catching the largest halibut during this period will win $1,000 in addition to the daily prizes. Weekly prizes include tours, accommodations and retail gift certificates, fishing charters, and Valdez Fish Derbies apparel.
Valdez Fish Derbies will also hold a “Tagged Fish Contest” August 12th through September 4th. If an angler catches a tagged silver salmon during that time period and turns it into the Valdez Fish Derbies weigh-in shack, they win cash or prizes. There will be one tagged silver salmon worth $10,000. All silver salmon derby rules apply for the “Tagged Fish Contest” and rules and more information can be found at www.valdezfishderbies.com
The Valdez Silver Salmon derby begins Saturday, July 23rd featuring prizes for the two biggest fish caught daily as well as prizes for the three biggest fish overall. The grand prize for catching the largest fish in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is $10,000 cash. The 2nd place prize is $3,000 and 3rd place is $1,500. Big Prize Fridays are scheduled for July 29th as well as September 2nd.
The Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby is happening Saturday, August 13th, and the Valdez Kid’s Pink Salmon Derby is on Saturday, July 23rd. Find weigh-in hours, ticket vendor locations, and more at www.valdezfishderbies.com