‘Not even my biggest fish’: Palmer man takes lead in Valdez Halibut Derby

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - A 185.4-pound halibut has put a Palmer man in first place at the Valdez Halibut Derby, even though he says he’s caught much larger before.

“It’s not even my biggest fish ever,” Mel Grove said. “A hundred pounds shy of the biggest one I’ve ever caught.”

Fishing has been a part of the Grove family for decades, according to Mel. He used to be a captain for the Alaskan Adventure Unlimited fishing charter.

His sons run the charter now, but Grove says he still enjoys the sport.

Because he’s been fishing for so long, Grove said he had a hunch his catch was bigger than usual once he started reeling it in.

“He did not want to come off the bottom, so it was a good fight,” Grove said. “[It] took over just over 30 minutes to get it all the way up.”

Though Grove has caught much larger, he said he still has some hope of staying in first place by the time the derby ends. Still, he feels confident that a bigger fish is still out there.

“Every fish has a mother,” Grove recalled being told by another captain.

In the meantime, Grove said he plans on sharing the halibut with friends and family, or trading it for red salmon caught by his coworkers.

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