For all the land lubbers who did not enter this year's MDR Halibut Derby, we'll try to keep you and them informed through out the weekend right here on SportfishingReport.com..

Beautiful fishing weather with slightly overcast skies greets this morning's derby contestants. The local bait suppliers were offering great cured sardines, mackerel and live squid for derby anglers. Local tackle stores, Purfields and Pico Fishing, were offering the right gear and instructions to help anglers land the big one and offering their knowledge of local spots to increase the chances of catching a winner. We already have reports of halibut being landed. We will start to see the real action between 3 and 5PM today during the exciting Saturday weigh in.

SportfishingReport.com strongly supports Youth Fishing and knows the proceeds from the MDR Halibut Derby support the MDRA Youth Fishing program which hosts over 1,000 kids every year. Every youth fishing trip is memorable but one stands out more than all the others, when 2 years ago a group of youths in protective custody aboard the Betty-O out of Marina del Rey got into a red hot bite of huge halibut up to 44 pounds.

This year will be the 34th year of the MDR Halibut Derby derby and they are pulling out all the stops. One skilled or lucky angler could walk away with 3 gigantic prizes as well as a load of cash.

Imagine, this could be YOU: 1. Win the 1st Place Prize for the biggest halibut??? A fishing trip for two at Beautiful Hotel Punta Colorada, in the amazing East Cape of Baja California,
2. Plus, win the Bonus Prize, if your winning halibut is 40 pounds or more ??? A fishing trip for two at the luxurious Sitka Point Lodge in pristine Alaska,
3. Plus, if your winning halibut is over 50 pounds, win the Super Grand Prize, and drive away with a new Toyota Tundra Truck, from Marina Del Rey Toyota.

You could win all three!!!!!!!! Several 40 pound halibut have been caught recently and we know there are 50 pounders roaming the Bay challenging you to catch them. If a 12 year old youth on one of the MDRA Youth Fishing Trips caught a 44 pound halibut, you can too!!!

Second through Fifth prizes are also great fishing trips to various famous Mexican Fishing Resorts including The Inn at Mazatlan, El Cid in Mazatlan and Las Flores Resort. The top youth prize is a high performance kayak from Wilderness Systems and the chances of winning it are high as there aren't that many kids signed up. With the halibut being so close to shore anybody can enter with a float tube or kayak.

The MDR Halibut Derby is the largest fishing tournament on the west coast with one of the largest assembly of cash and non cash prizes and it is a ton of fun. Two full days of fishing are followed by a huge awards dinner and prize ceremony. This is a 100% charity event. All labor is voluntary and all proceeds go to fund MDRA's Youth Fishing Program and the White Seabass Ocean Enhancement Program.

For those of you sitting on your couch or pulling weeds this weekend, follow the action right here on www.SportfishingReport.com and make sure you mark your calendars for this time next year!!!!!!!

Please visit www.halibutderby.com for more details.