VALDEZ, Alaska – Anglers are catching pink salmon in Valdez. With the Valdez Fisheries Development Association (VFDA) forecasting a return of 20 to 30 million pink salmon to Port Valdez this season, there should be a lot of action for the Kids Pink Salmon Derby this Saturday. Allison Point is a great place for young anglers to fish from shore during Kids Pink Salmon Derby Day with a pixie or spinner.
This Saturday is also the start of the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby. Anglers of all ages wanting a chance to catch the largest silver in Valdez and take home the $10,000 Valdez Fish Derbies 1st place prize can buy a derby ticket, get a line wet and give it a try. Last week Pat Olson, fish cutter in Valdez, reported that the silver salmon were being caught out by Glacier Island. VFDA has forecast an 80,000 return for silver salmon this year.
After a day of fishing out of Port Valdez, kids can enter the pink derby by submitting pictures on the Valdez Fish Derbies website for a chance to win prizes. This free one-day kids derby is open to kids aged 5 to 16. Kids can qualify for the derby by picking up a FREE Valdez Fish Derbies hat between 6am and 10am this Saturday at the Valdez Fish Derbies weigh-in station. Anglers need to take a picture of themselves with the hat and a pink salmon caught in Valdez Saturday and post on the Valdez Fish Derbies website by midnight the day of the Kids Derby for a chance to win. Winners will be chosen at random.
There will be a $100 cash winner in each of the four age categories as well as eight fishing poles given away. Visit www.valdezfishderbies.com for complete details. Kids in 4th to 8th grade will be on the air broadcasting a LIVE Kids Derby Radio Show from 5pm to 6pm Saturday, July 22nd on 93.3FM & 1230AM KVAK. The show will also be streamed LIVE on the KVAK Radio App (which can be downloaded from the Apple App or Google Play Store) and can be streamed from a computer at www.kvakradio.com. Kids will take over the studio and take callers age 5 to 16 to play games and win prizes like ice cream. One lucky caller will win 10 pounds of Jelly Beans.
The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby starts this Saturday and features a $10,000 first place prize for the largest silver salmon. The Silver Derby 2nd place prize is $3,000 and 3rd place overall is $1,500 cash. Valdez Fish Derbies will also award daily 1st and 2nd place prizes July 22nd through September 3rd for the largest Silver Salmon caught each day. Starting July 22nd, the weigh-in station will be open 1pm to 8pm.
Halibut fishing continues to be good out in Prince William Sound. Troy Dolge holds on to 1st place overall with his 203-pound fish caught June 4th aboard the Reflection, with Lucas Butkiewicz following with his 161.6-pounder caught July 1st aboard the Patriot. Andrew Haines holds onto 3rd place overall with her 151.4-pound halibut caught July 15th also aboard the Patriot.
Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Troy Dolge, Copper Center, AK, 203.0 lbs., June 4, Reflection
2nd Lucas Butkiewicz, Albemarle, NC, 161.6 lbs., July 1, Patriot
3rd Andrew Haines, Eagle River, AK, 151.4 lbs., July 15, Patriot
Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners – July 10th through July 16th
1st Andrew Haines, Eagle River, AK, 151.4 lbs., July 15, Patriot
2nd John Langer, Phoenix, AZ, 140.8 lbs., July 15, Sentinel