VALDEZ, Alaska – The Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby is this Saturday, and one lucky woman will be crowned “Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood”. Valdez Fish Derbies will give away $1,000 cash and $1,000 in prizes from Prospector Outfitters to the Woman catching the largest fish Saturday. The 2nd place winner will get $500 in cash and $500 in prizes and the 3rd place winner $300 cash and $300 in prizes. A Women’s Derby ticket is just $20, and they are required to also have a silver salmon derby ticket for Saturday. A daily Valdez Fish Derbies ticket is just $10, and it makes anglers eligible to win the overall Silver Salmon prize of $10,000 cash. On Saturday, leaders for the day will be posted at weigh-in and derby officials are asking that only those with a fish close to the top weight go to the weigh-in in order to minimize the number of people at weigh-in. Registration is going on at the Valdez Prospector August 7th through August 14th.
The current leader in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is a 12.40-pound fish caught by Kyle Hayden of Anchorage. The 2nd place leader is Hanna Blankenship of North Pole with a 12.12-pound silver and 3rd place is being held by Dawn Montano of Fairbanks with an 11.72-pound silver. The grand prize for the largest silver salmon caught in Valdez is $10,000 cash. The Silver Salmon 2nd place prize is $3,000 and 3rd place is $1,500.
There will be no in-person events for the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby, but Door Prizes will be announced on the Women’s Derby Page of the Valdez Fish Derbies website. Women will register for one of three prize packages at registration. Check the leader boards just below the Harbor Masters Office and on the weigh-in shack on Saturday for current standings. Women’s Derby Weigh-In closes at 6pm.
The Halibut coming into the weigh-in station have been sizeable since the start of the derby and this week was no exception. Jon Ribelin of Yacolt, Washington reeled in a 175.8-pound halibut aboard the Nikaitchuq. His fish was shy of the top three overall but was large enough to win the 1st place weekly prizes. Oliver Severence of Wasilla took 2nd place for the week with a 166.4-pound halibut caught August 1st. The Valdez Halibut Derby runs through September 5th.
In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Steve Peichel of Frazee, Minnesota is leading with a 246.8-pound fish he caught July 31st. Maren Russman of Lino Lakes, Minnesota is currently in 2nd place with a 214.8-pound halibut caught July 21st and Terrence McCabe of Valdez is holding onto 3rd place with a 202.0 pound halibut he caught July 5th. The Halibut derby runs through September 5th. More information on Valdez Halibut Derby can be found at: www.valdezfishderbies.com.
Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Steve Peichel Frazee, MN 246.8 lbs. July 31 Chugach Girl
2nd Maren Russman Lino Lakes, MN 214.8 lbs. July 21 Nunatak
3rd Terrence McCabe Valdez, AK 202.0 lbs. July 5 Only Fins
Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners
1st Jon Ribelin Yacolt, WA 175.8 lbs. Aug 5 Nikaitchuq
2nd Oliver Severence Wasilla, AK 166.4 lbs. Aug 1 Reflection
Silver Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Kyle Hayden Anchorage, AK 12.40 lbs. Aug 6 Thin Blue Line
2nd Hanna Blankenship North Pole, AK 12.12 lbs. Aug 3 Hanna Marie III
3rd Dawn Montano Fairbanks, AK 11.72 lbs. Aug 7 Faithful