VALDEZ, Alaska – When Chinda Heston of Valdez hooked into a 14.88 pound silver salmon she told everyone on the boat they were heading right back to Port to weigh-in for the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby. Close to 600 women registered for the 2017 Women’s Silver Salmon derby and they cheered on Heston at the Valdez Civic Center as she was crowned “Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood”. Heston said everyone on her boat caught several fish, but when she hooked into her big fish she told them, “Get back to the harbor now”. Heston, who is from Thailand and lives in Valdez now, said she caught her fish near the waterfalls by the narrows and they were fishing at a depth of about 50 feet. Heston said this is the biggest fish she has ever caught and it gave her a good fight for a solid 10 minutes before she brought it on board. There were 595 women registered for the Women’s Silver Salmon Derby and the weigh-in was hopping with close to 500 women weighing in their top fish for a chance to win a prize. The Women’s Derby awards prizes for the top 50 fish.

The fact that fish were plentiful by the Valdez narrows is good news for the Valdez silver salmon derby. The run of silver salmon into Port Valdez was disappointing last year, but it is looking good for the 2017 season. “There are a lot of fish out there and they are beautiful fish”, commented Rick Ballow as he waited with his wife and her friends to weigh-in fish Saturday. “I understand they caught really big silver out at Naked Island. I think we’re going to have a 20 pound winner this year”, he said.

With silver salmon already showing up at the narrows, the fishing should be good from shore at Allison Point and in Port Valdez the final weeks of the derby. Most of those trolling on Saturday had success trolling at a depth of 40 to 70 feet. Hot spots this weekend were Potato Point, Jacks Bay, Galena Bay and the Narrows.

Frieda Wiley is still leading the Valdez Halibut Derby with the 347 pound halibut she caught August 6^th. Her fish set a new record for the largest fish ever caught in the Valdez Halibut Derby. Her catch last week moved Tim Stadtmiller of Fairbanks down to 2^nd place overall in the derby with the 266.6 pound halibut he caught June 19^th. Grant Stultz from Reston, VA caught a 182.2 pound halibut August 8^th to get into the overall standings at 3^rd place.

Both the Valdez Halibut Derby and Valdez Silver Salmon Derbies boast a $15,000 first place prize for the largest fish and run through Sunday, September 3^rd at noon. More information about the Valdez Derbies can be found at www.valdezfishderbies.com.

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        Grant Stultz                Reston, VA                  182.2 lbs.         Aug 8               Dan Orion

Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners

1^st           Frieda Wiley               Valdez, AK                 347.0 lbs.         Aug 6              Dan Orion

2^nd        Grant Stultz                Reston, VA                 182.2 lbs.         Aug 8              Dan Orion

Silver Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st        Cole Baxter                 Fayetteville, GA         15.62 lbs.         July 26             Shark Tooth Charter

2^nd        Chinda Heston                        Valdez, AK                 14.88 lbs.         Aug 12                        Sandi

3^rd        H. Charles Sparks       Fairbanks, AK             14.50 lbs.         Aug 6              Patriot

Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby

2017 – TOP 50