Valdez fishing report highlights one of Alaska’s most scenic and productive fisheries, nestled in the heart of Prince William Sound. Known for its abundant salmon runs, trophy halibut, and vibrant community derbies, Valdez offers anglers a unique blend of accessible shore and world-class saltwater fishing. 

September Silvers and Winter Fishing in October

Valdez had a strong salmon season through early September, with silver salmon showing well in multiple areas, both in freshwater rivers and estuaries. Anglers reported consistent action, particularly in the main river systems, with silvers moving steadily and offering excellent opportunities for both guided and independent trips. In addition to the salmon, bottomfish such as halibut and rockfish kept charters busy throughout the early season, with steady catches reported in the fjords and deeper coastal waters.

By mid-September, freshwater silvers began pushing higher into rivers, while saltwater salmon fishing gradually tapered off. This shift brought more focus to freshwater drift and fly-fishing techniques, as well as continued success with halibut and rockfish charters offshore. Late-season charters found feeder kings in select rivers, providing anglers with a chance at these prized fish before winter conditions set in.

October marked the transition toward winter fishing, with many locals targeting halibut, rockfish, and occasional salmon when weather and tide conditions allowed. Charters adapted to shorter daylight hours and cooler temperatures, and the focus shifted to consistent bottomfish action in the sheltered waters near the Valdez Arm.

The 2025 season in Valdez offered a mix of strong salmon runs early on and dependable bottomfish opportunities later in the fall. Anglers looking for winter action often continue targeting halibut and feeder kings when conditions permit, keeping the Valdez waters active year-round for dedicated fishers.

This concludes the 2025 Valdez fishing report. We’ll see you back on the water for the 2026 season!

Strong August Fishing and a Thrilling Derby Close

September 4, 2025

Fishing in Valdez stayed hot through August with silver salmon showing up strong, especially for anglers working the Narrows, Glacier Stream, and Allison Point. Halibut, lingcod, and rockfish also kept charters busy, with steady catches reported out in Prince William Sound. Overall, charter boats had a solid month, though as September sets in, fishing pressure and activity on the saltwater side will start to taper as operators wind down their seasons.

The 2025 Valdez Silver Salmon Derby has come to a close, and the leaderboard shuffled right up to the end. Jager Thurmond of Wasilla, Alaska, claimed the top spot with a 15.32-pound silver caught August 24 aboard the Bear n Shrimp. Young angler Addyson Lyons of Post Falls, Idaho, held strong in second with her 15.14-pounder from August 9 on the Lyons Den. Local fisherman Barrett Wells of Valdez rounded out the top three, weighing in a 14.76-pound silver on August 27 aboard Off Shore. From kids to seasoned anglers, this year’s derby delivered tight competition, heavy fish, and plenty of excitement on the docks in Valdez.

Freshwater anglers can still find action in area streams where silvers are pushing in, but it’s a short window before things slow down. For now, late-season opportunities remain, with silvers and bottomfish still hitting well for those getting out on the water.

As fall wraps up the charter season, winter in Valdez shifts the focus to hardy locals chasing feeder kings and halibut when weather allows. It’s a quieter but rewarding time on the Sound for those willing to bundle up and brave the elements.

Valdez Women’s Silver Derby Winner Leads Overall Silver Derby Board

August 12, 2025

The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby has taken an exciting turn with young angler Addyson Lyons of Post Falls, Idaho, leading the entire derby. Fishing aboard the Lyons Den, Addyson landed a 15.14-pound silver on August 9, edging out some fierce competition. Just behind her is Andrea Stauner of Fairbanks, Alaska, with a 14.72-pounder caught the same day aboard the Abbie. In third place sits Ernest Murphy of Bellevue, Texas, who brought in a 14.60-pound silver on August 5 from the Vixen. With a kid at the top of the leaderboard and plenty of fishing days left, the derby buzz in Valdez is as strong as the runs.

Addyson Lyons with her leading silver!

The Women’s Silver Salmon Derby in Valdez crowned its queen this year, and she’s making waves beyond the women’s standings. Addyson Lyons of Post Falls, Idaho, who is also leading the overall derby, took first place with her 15.14-pound silver caught August 9 aboard the Lyons Den. Her impressive catch earned her $1,000 in cash and another $1,000 in prizes. Second place went to Andrea Stauner of Fairbanks, Alaska, with a 14.72-pounder from the Abbie, good for $500 cash and $500 in prizes. Rounding out the top three was Kena Blood of Valdez, Alaska, who landed a 13.62-pound silver aboard the Mabel C, winning $300 in cash and $300 in prizes. With Addyson leading both the women’s and overall standings, this year’s derby has a standout story everyone in town is talking about.

The Valdez Halibut Derby standings remain unchanged this week, with James Cook of Bremerton, Washington, still holding the top spot at 210.0 pounds, followed by Mel Grove’s 185.4-pounder and Kreed Jones’ 177.8-pound catch.

Strong Action in Both Salt and Freshwater

August 8, 2025

August in Valdez brings the height of the summer fishing season, and anglers are enjoying excellent action both in the saltwater and around local lakes. Salmon are moving through Port Valdez in big numbers, with silvers and pinks providing steady catches from shore and boat alike. Bright silvers are being hooked at classic spots like Allison Point and the small boat harbor, while pinks remain abundant along Dayville Road and in tidal creeks. The local hatchery has helped support robust salmon returns, and the increased bag limits on pinks this year mean plenty of opportunity for everyone.

Out in the Sound, halibut, rockfish, and lingcod keep bottomfish fans busy, especially when the weather is calm. Sea-run Dolly Varden are showing up in creeks chasing salmon eggs, adding another fun option on light tackle. For those interested in freshwater, lakes like Blueberry, Thompson, and Ruth were recently stocked and are providing easygoing escapes from the busy harbor scene.

The annual Silver Salmon Derby is in full swing through August 31, and the Women’s Silver Salmon Derby takes place August 9. These community events add an extra spark to the season, with prizes, friendly competition, and lots of fish stories being made and shared along the docks.

Valdez Derby Standings

The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby is heating up with some hefty fish on the board. Ernest Murphy of Bellevue, Texas holds first place with a 14.60-pound coho caught on August 5 aboard the Vixen. Close behind is David Winney of Valdez, who landed a 13.86-pounder the same day on the Island Girl. Raymond Martel, also from Valdez, rounds out the top three with a 13.38-pound silver caught August 6 aboard Fishy Tales. With the derby still underway, it’s anyone’s guess how long these standings will hold.

The Valdez Halibut Derby leaderboard is stacked with heavyweight catches this season. Leading the pack is James Cook of Bremerton, Washington, with a 210.0-pound halibut landed on July 19 aboard the Dan Orion. Mel Grove from Palmer, Alaska, holds second with a 185.4-pound fish caught July 5 on the Mel Fare. In third is Kreed Jones of Chugiak, Alaska, who brought in a 177.8-pounder on July 2 while fishing from the Hofshore. With big fish still hitting the docks, these top spots could face some serious competition before the derby wraps.

Pink Salmon Runs Peak and Silver Salmon Derby Heats Up

July 29, 2025

July in Valdez has been marked by strong salmon runs and active fishing derbies, with outstanding participation and good catches reported through late July. Pink salmon fishing has been particularly vibrant this month, offering excellent surf-casting opportunities along Dayville Road near Allison Point and Solomon Gulch Creek, where anglers commonly experience fish-on-every-cast action during run peaks. The city beaches and port areas such as Allison Point remain top spots for pinks and increasingly for Coho (silver) salmon, which are starting to show up in good numbers by late July.

Silvers

The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby has been a key highlight, drawing local and visiting anglers competing for trophies and prizes, with silvers attracted to the region due to the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery releasing 1.8 million Coho smolts annually. By late July, silver salmon fishing near the Arm and Narrows is solid, with some exceptional catches in the Port area expected into early August. Shore fishing for silver salmon near Allison Point and around the small boat harbor remains productive, offering easy access for anglers without boats.

Silver Derby Standings

In first place is Michael Freerksen of Valdez, Alaska, with a 13.02-pound silver caught July 27 aboard the Crista June. Close behind in second is Crystal Rowe, also of Valdez, with a 12.82-pounder landed July 28 on the Misstress. Rounding out the top three is Addyson Lyons from Post Falls, Idaho, who brought in a 12.34-pound silver on July 25 while fishing from the Lyons Den. With plenty of time left in the derby, the competition is wide open.

Pink Salmon

Pink salmon bag limits in saltwaters north of Valdez Narrows have been increased to 12 fish per day (24 in possession) by emergency order to accommodate the strong runs, and pinks continue to be the dominant salmon species in saltwater catches. Coho fishing is heating up, particularly near the Narrows and just outside the Port of Valdez. Salmon anglers are using a variety of tactics including casting spinners and spoons, as well as mooching with herring chunks.

Bottom Fishing

In addition to salmon, halibut and lingcod fishing have been solid for boat anglers venturing out into Prince William Sound. Lingcod season opened July 1, and bottom fishing offers good action for lingcod, halibut, rockfish, and Pacific cod. Some halibut catches have been notable in size, and while less common, occasional smaller halibut or lingcod may be caught from shore around the ferry dock and small boat harbor.

Halibut Derby Standings

The 2025 Valdez Halibut Derby features strong competition with James Cook from Bremerton, WA leading overall with a 210.0 lb halibut caught on July 19. Close behind are Mel Grove of Palmer, AK with a 185.4 lb fish and Kreed Jones of Chugiak, AK weighing in at 177.8 lbs

Early Pink Arrivals Ignite Shore and Saltwater Action in Valdez

June saw increasing activity as fish began arriving in good numbers in Prince William Sound waters near Valdez. Pink and chum salmon schools started to appear in the saltwater by mid to late June, with early reports of anglers catching pink salmon from shore. Coho salmon numbers were still low but beginning to build, with fishing improving towards the end of the month.

Early Season in Valdez

In May, the fishing season was just gearing up in Valdez, with early-stocked lakes like Thompson Lake and Blueberry Lake offering opportunities for rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, and lake trout. The Valdez Halibut Derby kicked off on May 25th, attracting anglers excited to catch trophy halibut, including big fish competing for cash and prizes.

Return to all Alaska Fishing Reports

Add Your Voice to the Fishing Report

Whether you’re a local who knows the rivers by heart or a visitor reeling in your first Alaskan catch, we want to hear from you.