Fishing Report: Slam’n Salm’n heats up, 12-year-old leads Valdez Halibut Derby
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - It is the time of year to see who can hook the biggest chinook at the annual Slam’n Salm’n Derby at Ship Creek, Anchorage’s largest king salmon Derby since the 1990s, where it is all about casting a line to help others.
”Proceeds from this event go to support four local Alaska nonprofits, which is a great, great opportunity to raise awareness, raise funds, all for coming down — a little mingling, bending some rods and yelling fish on!” Dustin Slinker said, who runs the Bait Shack at Ship Creek and the Slam’n Salm’n Derby.
A $20 derby ticket could land you a 20-pound king salmon, with scales tipped to 25.95 and 28 pounds so far.
The nine-day derby dedicates one of those days for youth-only anglers to get hooked on fishing.
”As we call it, ‘Get out and Fish.’ We block off a portion of this creek through the Board of Fish process, that was actually written into the regulations,” Slinker said. “The kids really showed up, and we’ve got over 300 kids on the bank, first one was in the water about 6:02 in the morning ... and nothing but smiles, and that’s what we’re here for.”
At the end of the week, the derby winner will come away with a nearly one-ounce gold nugget on top of $1,000 in cash.
”The best advice we can give you with fishing Ship Creek is take a look at the fishing tides,” he added. “The way we like to fish is three hours before that high tide to three hours after that high tide. With that flood in tide, that’s what’s going to drive the fish into the system. Once that tide moves back out, a lot of those fish go back out with it.”
Meanwhile, the youth have also taken over another popular derby further east.
Twelve-year-old Summer Ruge of Fairbanks hauled in the heaviest halibut of the Valdez Fish Derbies so far with a 159.4-pounder reeled in on May 27, just three days into the derby.
Two other Interior Alaska anglers — Kathy Young (Fairbanks, 15.28 pounds) and Michael Olson (North Pole, 151.6 pounds) — sit in second and third. The winner of the Halibut Derby, which wraps up Sept. 1, will receive a $10,000 grand prize.
Other Valdez Fish Derbies include the Silver Derby from July 20 to Sept. 1 and the Women’s Silver Salmon Derby Aug. 10.
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