Hugh's big fish isn't a money winner but it's nice

On May 23, Hugh Wingfield, Delta Junction, caught a big halibut while fishing aboard the Dawn Treader. Hugh's 117 lb fish placed him 3rd in the Valdez Halibut Derby as noted in Anchorage Daily News' Outdoor Hot Line column.

That was as of May 29, but the latest report on Valdez Fish Derbys' Web site indicates that Hugh's catch is 4th or lower.

As of 5/311/06, overall leaders were:
(click links to see fish fotos in a new window)
1st 195.0 on 5/31 Rich Piech of North Pole
2nd 133.8 on 5/24 Bill Langley of Fairbanks
3rd 118.2 Chad Greenway on 5/24 of Fairbanks.

Tough luck Hugh. You haven't caught the reel big one yet in this derby. But still, that's some nice Alaskan fish eatin' for folks at Delta's Alaska 7 Motel. (You are going to share aren't you?)

If other fisher folk in Delta are having similar derby successes in Alaskan waters (salt or fresh), please send your fish fotos and fish tails to Delta News Web.