Marina del Rey Halibut Derby Returns June 8-9

Byline: The Log Staff

MARINA DEL REY — Anglers from across Southern California will enter the 38th Marina del Rey Halibut Derby — a fun-filled weekend fishing competition, June 8-9.

This year’s top 10 anglers will take home valuable prizes — and the top prize is a three-day fishing package with four days of lodging at Alaska’s Sitka Point Lodge, plus a $500 travel voucher. Anglers can also enter a jackpot for a chance at an additional $2,000 (based on 200 entrants) along with the vacation.

All entrants will receive a limited-edition T-shirt and a barbecue dinner from Outback Catering at the event’s awards banquet. In addition to the general entry competition, there will be team, women’s and children’s division competition, with prizes for the top three anglers in each category.

There will also be a raffle with thousands of dollars worth of rods, reels, trips, apparel and other items, donated by the event’s many sponsors.

Money raised in this charity event goes to help fund the Marina del Rey Youth Fishing Program and the white seabass grow-out pens in Marina del Rey. Each year, Marina del Rey Anglers take more than 500 at-risk and disabled youth fishing — and Marina del Rey Anglers have released more than 100,000 juvenile white seabass into local waters.

Conservation is a cornerstone of the Marina del Rey Anglers’ efforts, and the organization works closely with Santa Monica Bay Restoration Foundation and Hubbs SeaWorld on scientific and sustainable ocean efforts.

The derby minimizes its impact on the local halibut fishery by continuing with a multi-species format, a weight bonus for verified release of live fish and an event date outside prime breeding months. With the multi-species format, the heaviest white seabass, bag of five calico bass or bag of five rockfish could win over a halibut.

This year’s weight bonus is being increased from 20 percent to 25 percent for live fish released at the dock by Mike Shane of Hubbs SeaWorld.

Entrants can sign up online at halibutderby.com or in person from 3-9 p.m. June 5, 6 and 7 at Burton Chace Park. A free halibut fishing seminar is planned at 7:30 p.m. June 6 in the Burton Chace Park Community Room.

For more information, visit halibutderby.com.