Anchorage Daily News

California angler Jeff Pardi continued to wait out his likely victory in the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby last week, while Chugiak angler Paul Standifer took over the monthly lead with a 154-pounder.

This late in the season, when the biggest fish have moved back to deeper water, Pardi is unlikely to be caught. But Standifer, fishing aboard the Mako of Captain Scott's Sportfishing, assumed the lead in the race for the $1,000 monthly prize.

Keith Spizzirri of Homer landed the second-largest fish of the month, a 148-pounder on the Sea Flight with Sea Flight Charters. The monthly second-place prize is $750.

The derby runs through Sept. 30.

Silver salmon limit on Buskin River relaxed

A rush of silver salmon to Kodiak's Buskin River is providing some late-season relief to a mostly beleagured salmon season on the island -- and a September opportunity for anglers.

As of Sept. 14, a weir on river had counted 5,885 silver salmon, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists were projecting more than 10,000 fish will enter the river drainage.

"The escapement goal range of 3,200 to 7,200 fish is likely to be exceeded even if additional sport harvest opportunity is provided," wrote area management biologist Len Schwarz.

As a result, the daily bag limit is being raised to five silvers a day, five in possession. Schwarz said the run typically peaks in mid-September, and plenty of bright fish remain.

The Buskin's silver return contrasted sharply with a dismal red salmon return, in which fewer than 5,900 fish passed the weir -- sharply lower than the previous two years and below the escapement goal.

"The one thing you have to look at is if the ocean survival was bad, it would have to be pretty much consistent," Schwarz said. "So how do explain the fact that we've had some good runs and some bad ones?"

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