Halibut, which look like flounder but bigger, can grow to some impressive sizes. One look at the Valdez Halibut Derby, which runs through August 31, confirms this, with ever bigger fish seemingly caught every week. Just recently, a 144-pounder was leading the event and in the running to take the possible $10,000 grand prize for largest halibut.
But that 144-pound halibut caught by Fairbanks woman Melissa Hurd in late June has been topped by several other massive halibut. In addition to the huge 185.4-pound flatfish recently caught by Capt. Grove, other recent top halibut include a 177.8-pounder caught by Kreed Jones, and a 171.6-pounder by Chris Pittman.
The most recent top three halibut in the derby are on track to take first place of $10,000, $3,000 for second place, and $1,500 for third place. Most fish are caught in or near Prince William Sound, located in southern Alaska between Anchorage and Valdez.
Recent history of the derby shows that even these colossal current derby leading halibut may not be the event’s eventual top winners.
A 205-pound halibut won the event last year for Natalie Cevasco of Fairbanks. In 2005 angler Kevin Lincoln caught a 374-pounder in the derby. In 2023, Tennessee resident angler Paul Casey won with a 316.8-pound halibut.
Frieda Wiley set the Valdez Halibut Derby record with a 374-pounder caught in 2017.
The Valdez Halibut Derby began in the 1980s when a couple anglers realized how superb the fishing was in the region and started a fishing competition for the species. It is similar in concept to the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby, which began in 1952 and is one of the oldest such events in Alaska.
With plenty of halibut derby fishing time still available to anglers, who’ll win top prize money is anyone’s guess.
Current event leader Capt. Mel Grove’s 185.4-pounder is huge by any standard. But he knows there are bigger fish around that can top his fish’s weight.
He says every fish has a mother, which presumably is older and larger than any halibut caught. The Palmer, Alaska resident – who runs Alaskan Adventure Unlimited fishing charters – says his 185-pound fish was a tough 30-minute fight to bring to his boat.
Other larger “mother” halibut are sure to be at least as difficult to catch as Grove’s fish.
