Youth was served in Valdez on Saturday
Hometown angler Jace Branshaw, 7, was the only youngster whose fish exceeded the six-pound mark in the eighth-annual Valdez Kids Pink Salmon Derby.
The fishing contest attracted hundreds of young anglers ages 5 to 16.
Branshaw's 6.2-pound pink was the overall winner. Calvin Todd won the 8-10 year-old division with a 5.4-pounder, Aaron Williams of Fairbanks won the 11-13 division with a 5.7-pounder, and Logan Heckathorn of Valdez took the 14-16 division with a 5.3-pounder.
Homer throwback worth $500
Angler James Perkins of Joplin, Missouri, earned $500 from the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby on July 15 for releasing a flatfish he caught with Captain Eric Lehm of North Country Charters.
Three monthly $500 released-fish prizes are awarded by drawing during the summer-long derby, with a $1,000 drawing at the end. The released fish must be at least 48 inches long.
Meanwhile, Linda Scott of Minnesota continued to lead the derby with her 224-pound halibut caught July 10.
Four women in military earn Bristol Bay trip
Four women who served in the military will be in Bristol Bay later this week on an all-expenses-paid fly fishing excursion sponsored by Trout Unlimited's Alaska Program, Grenold and Dorothy Collins Alaska Charitable Trust, Project Healing Waters Alaska, Alaska Sportsman's Bear Trail Lodge, and several veteran-service groups.
Participants are either active-duty military or veterans from Alaska who experience physical or emotional disabilities due to their service.
Each of the women -- Katie Puterbaugh, Erin Smith-Cohen, Laura Sherman, and Francesca Popp-Wright -- were previously assigned to JBER.