Mark your calendars for April 4 & 5, 2009, for the 35th Annual Marina Del Rey Halibut Derby. Expect hundreds of happy anglers to compete for over $65,000 in cash and prizes. Win spectacular prizes and raffle items including deluxe fishing vacations to Alaska's famous Sitka Point Lodge and River's Inlet Sportsman's Club, Mexico's beautiful Hotel Punta Colorada, fishing trips on the Vagabond and other boats, as well as a shot at a brand new Toyota Tundra Truck from Marina Del Rey Toyota. The derby dates have even been selected to take advantage of the best tide and moon cycle, so plan on coming out and being one of the big winners.

MDRA's President Kenneth Raymond said, "this 35th Anniversary of the MDR Halibut Derby is going to be very special. I've been involved with this halibut derby for over 10 years, and it just keeps on getting better and better. You've got to get out here and experience it. Plus, it gives you a great feeling knowing 100% of the proceeds go to youth fishing programs and critical marine conservation projects."

There will be many ways to compete, and you certainly do not need to own your own boat. Sportfishing boats, including the Betty-O out of Marina del Rey Sportfishing will dedicate the weekend to the halibut derby. Kayakers and float tubers are consistently catching big halibut and we expect an even bigger contingent of kayak anglers out this year.

"We're pulling all the stops out this year to celebrate 35 years of the biggest halibut derby in the country," said Raymond. "This derby has made it possible for our organization to host tens of thousands of great kids on fishing trips and the successfully release over 100,000 juvenile white sea bass. Today many of these kids we took fishing are tax paying, voting anglers on their own, and many of these baby white seabass are trophy sized fish to 40 and 60 pounds and being caught by anglers up and down the coast. This makes me and all of my fellow MDRA members darn proud."

There will also be many easy ways to register:

1. Mail-in registration forms will be mailed to past participants,
2. The MDR Halibut Derby registration booth at the Fred Hall Show,
3. The Halibut Fishing Seminar at Burton Chace Park on March 11,
4. Registration forms in Western Outdoor News and Pacific Coast Sportfishing,
5. On-line registration at www.halibutderby.com

The MDR Halibut Derby is one of the largest fishing tournaments on the west coast, boasts one of the largest assembly of cash and non cash prizes and is a ton of fun. Two full days of fishing are followed by a huge awards dinner and prize ceremony. All proceeds go to fund MDRA's youth fishing program and the White Seabass Ocean Enhancement Program. So private boaters, party boaters and kayakers, mark your 2009 calendars for April 4 & 5 for the MDR Halibut Derby, and March 11 for the halibut fishing seminar. Please visit www.halibutderby.com for more details.