Thanks to everyone who entered KVAK’s Gold Rush Days photo contest!
Winners may pick up their prizes at the KVAK studios.
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Submitted by Lizzy Covington
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FAVORITE CAN CAN GIRL
Submitted by Holly Jenkins
Sunday, August 20, 2pm – Valdez Civic Center
Potluck for all, following memorial. Donations can be made in Randy’s memory to: Valdez Fly-In & Airshow
Courtesy Valdez Fish Derbies Press Release
VALDEZ, Alaska – Frieda Wiley wasn’t even supposed to go fishing Sunday but when her husband had a cancellation on his charter boat she got the opportunity to go. The 374 pound halibut she reeled up stands a good chance of winning $15,000 in the Halibut Derby and set the record for the largest halibut on record in the Valdez Halibut Derby.
Wiley said she has been waiting 20 years to catch this fish and it took her 45 minutes of hard reeling to bring it in. “My back started spazzing out a little bit and my arm was starting to shake” said Wiley. “Once I hooked it, I felt the head shake and I knew it was something large”. Wiley’s halibut measured 91 inches long and towered over her as she smiled and accepted congratulations from the growing crowd at the Valdez Harbor.
Although Wiley was excited about catching the big halibut, she said she was originally planning to go out silver salmon fishing. “I got my halibut derby season ticket the first day of the derby and I got my silver salmon derby ticket when that derby started. I can’t wait to go fishing in the Women’s Silver Salmon derby”.
Some very nice silver salmon have come into Port Valdez and Wiley said they saw them jumping in the Gulf. Valdez Fish Derbies weigh-in coordinator Dana Morales said most of the daily winners have been in the 10 to 12 pound range. “The fishing should be good for the Women’s Silver Salmon Derby on the 12th” said Morales.
The Women’s Silver Salmon Derby is this Saturday with an opening ceremony Friday night. Last year Nana Matsui of Valdez, Alaska won the Derby and was crowned Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood with a 15.90 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.
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. Registration is currently underway for the Women’s Derby upstairs in the new Prospector building on Egan Drive. The theme this year is “Adventure on the High Seas” and there will be a group costume contest Friday. Live music is planned for Saturday and derby organizers are expecting another exciting year. CLICK HERE to visit the Women’s Derby registration page at www.valdezfishderbies.com.
Opening Celebration
Friday, August 11th
Valdez Civic Center • 6 – 9:30pm
Lots of Great Door Prizes • No Host Bar • Wheel of Chocolate • Costume Contest • Fish Olympics
Theme for this year is “Adventures On the High Seas”
Awards Party
Saturday, August 12
“Crowning of the Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood™”
Valdez Civic Center • Doors open at 7pm • Event begins at 8pm
Music • Door Prizes • No Host Bar • Top 50 Prizes Awarded
Early Registration Begins: August 5th – 12th at the Prospector Valdez
(New location! – 200 Egan Drive)
Friday, August 11th: After 6:00pm, register up at the Opening Ceremonies at the Civic Center:
6:00-9:00pm
Saturday, August 12th: Prospector: 5:30am – Noon
Craig Holmes and Pearl Navarro welcomed Remi Tyler Holmes to the world on July 30th, 2017 at 11:39pm.
He weighed 6 lbs. 3 oz. and was19.25 long.
Congratulations!
VALDEZ, Alaska – In addition to winning the 1st place daily prize and being the new 3rd overall leader, Crista Andersen of Valdez won Big Prize Friday and took home $500 cash in addition to her daily prizes. Cole Baxter of Fayetteville, GA caught a nice fish Wednesday to put him at the top of the leader board in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby. Baxter weighed in his 15.62 pound catch aboard Shark Tooth Charters. Currently in 2nd place in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is Weston Branshaw of Valdez who caught a 12.42 pound silver on July 22nd aboard the High Mark. Currently in 3rd place is Crista Andersen of Valdez, Alaska who reeled in 12.18 pound silver July 28th aboard the Crista June.
As the silvers return to Port Valdez in larger numbers during the coming weeks, expect the size of daily winners to increase. The largest fish on record to win the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby was a 22.14 pound fish. It doesn’t always take a huge fish to win the Valdez Derbies. The smallest silver salmon to win the derby according to records dating back to 1971 is Jim Burzinski of Valdez who reeled in a 15.11 silver to win back in 1971. Visit the Valdez Fish Derbies Silver Salmon Derby “Previous Winners” page for complete list of winners and weights.
There have been several trophy size lingcod and rockfish brought to Port Valdez. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Trophy Fish program has been going since the 1960’s and gives special recognition to anglers taking fish that meet a minimum weight within a species. The minimum weight to have a trophy lingcod is 55 pounds. The largest lingcod on record in Alaska is a 81 pound, six ounce monster caught by Charles Curny out of Monty Island in 2001. A rockfish needs to tip the scales at 18 pounds to be considered a trophy fish. Henry Liebman reeled in a 39 pound, one ounce rockfish in 2013 and currently holds the record for largest trophy rockfish.
The trophy weight for halibut is 250 pounds so Tim Stadtmiller of Fairbanks, Alaska made the grade when he caught his 266.6 pound halibut earlier this year. Stadtmiller caught his 266.6 pound halibut June 19th and is still leading the Valdez Halibut Derby.
The Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby should bring in some bigger fish, and a lot of lady anglers. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday, August 11th and a closing awards ceremony on Saturday, August 12th. The theme of this year’s Women’s Derby is “Adventures on The High Seas” and there will be a group costume contest Friday. Live music and awards are planned for Saturday and derby organizers are expecting another exciting year. CLICK HERE to visit the Women’s Derby registration page at www.valdezfishderbies.com.
Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Tim Stadtmiller Fairbanks, AK 266.6 lbs. June 19 Dan Orion
2nd Daniel Schmitz Wasilla, AK 176.6 lbs. June 12 Jamie Lynn
3rd Hali Lombardi Valdez, AK 176.4 lbs. July 11 Amanda Rose
Halibut Derby – Weekly Winners
1st Thomas O’Leary Manhattan, MT 167.0 lbs. July 28 Sea Quester
2nd Jim Miland Boyd, WI 152.0 lbs. July 23 Dan Orion
Silver Derby – Overall Leaders
1st Cole Baxter Fayetteville, GA 15.62 lbs. July 26 Shark Tooth Charters
2nd Weston Branshaw Valdez, AK 12.42 lbs. July 22 High Mark
3rd Crista Andersen Valdez, AK 12.18 lbs. July 28 Crista June
Ellen Sneve and Michael Juleen welcomed Ivy Sarah Juleen to the world on July 24, 2017 at 10:59 pm.
She weighed 9 lbs 11 oz. and was 21.26″ long.
Congratulations!
