WEEK #8 – BRANSHAW WEIGHS IN A 6.22 POUND FISH TO WIN KIDS PINK SALMON DERBY

VALDEZ, Alaska – The Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby brought hundreds of children to Valdez Saturday in hopes of winning a longboard, skateboard or fishing pole in the Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby. This is the 8^th Annual Kids Pink Salmon Derby.

The weigh-in station gave away 300 free t-shirts to kids age 5 to 16 that got a line wet. The winner of the 5 to 7 year-old age division was seven-year old Jace Branshaw of Valdez who won his age division and took top honors for largest fish in the derby with a 6.22 pound pink salmon. Abby Wease took 2^nd place and had the 3rd largest fish with a 5.44 pound pink. And Valdez local, seven year old Autumn Boone, sealed 3^rd place in her age division with a 5.36 pound pink.

In the 8 to 10 year old division, Calvin Todd of Fairbanks took top honors as well as the 1^st place prize of a longboard and a 5 year subscription to Fish Alaska Magazine with a 5.40 pound pink salmon. Aaron Williams of Fairbanks was back again to take 1^st place, two years in a row, in the 11 to 13 year old age division with a 5.46 pound pink. Logan Heckathorn won the 14 to 16 year old division with a 5.28 pound pink salmon. First place winners in each age division received a longboard and 5 year subscription to Fish Alaska Magazine. The 2^nd place winners received a skateboard and 3 year subscription to Fish Alaska Magazine and the 3^rd place finishers took home a fishing pole from Prospector and a one year magazine subscription.

In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Fred Hyder still leads the way with the 253.8 pound halibut he caught July 10^th aboard the Jaime Lynn. Milton Fujino of Hawaii is currently in 2^nd place overall with a 216.8 pound halibut he caught July 12^th aboard the Jaime Lynn and Candice Janke caught her first halibut ever and got on the board in 3^rd place overall with a 215.8 pound halibut. The Silver Derby started Saturday and hopes are high for a great year. In the Silver Salmon Derby, Victona Herman of Montgomery, Texas took an early lead with a 12.88 pound silver she picked up July 19^th aboard the Sound Affair. Bud Corbin of Santa Barbara, California is currently 2^nd place overall with a 11.28 pound silver he caught July 19^th aboard the Martie Kay and Eloisa Saunders of Jelm, Washington is currently in 3^rd place overall with a 10.34 pound silver she caught July 18^th aboard Reel Nuts.

Overall Silver Derby Leaders