The 70th Sitka Sportsman's Association Salmon Derby kicks off Saturday morning, drawing anglers of all ages in the annual competition for prize-winning king salmon.
Rain and high winds are in the forecast for the first three days of the derby, Saturday through Memorial Day Monday.
The derby is a main fundraiser for the Sportsman's Association, a nonprofit that runs an indoor shooting range north of town and also hosts events such as pistol leagues, trap shooting contests, and swap and sell meets. In 2024, the association gave away $6,000 in four scholarships to local students.
This year is not only the 70th anniversary of the Sitka Salmon Derby, but the 25th year at the helm for John McCrehin, derby chairman and president of the Sitka Sportsman’s Association.
McCrehin told the Sentinel that he always looks forward to the derby as a signpost for summertime that brings families together on the water.
“It's the biggest family event in Sitka," McCrehin said. "Over the years, I've seen every combination of family members fishing against family members." It's now a tradition for three generations of his own family, he said.
Less than ideal weather may add a layer of concern for small boat anglers on the water this weekend. The National Weather Service calls for rain and wind to hit Sitka today and continue through the weekend. (See weather story, this page). A low pressure system over the Gulf of Alaska is expected to bring rough weather to the region beginning today, the Weather Service says.
Top prize this year is $20,000 for the heaviest king salmon, with a range of prizes for smaller fish and "hidden weights" in the final standings.
McCrehin said this year's grand prize was donated by Bev Caldwell, who runs Caldwell Business Properties. Last year Caldwell donated the $5,000 first prize, and McCrehen said when he saw this year's check "my eyes must have bowled.”
Second prize is two round trip tickets on Alaska Airlines and $4,000 in cash, while the third gets $2,000 and an outboard engine. Other cash prizes are on offer from a host of businesses around town, and not all are related to how large the fish is in relation to others.
There are also memorial prizes in honor of Chuck McGraw Jr., Chief Martin Fredrickson, Louie Baggen, Frank Williams, Mark Bagley and Mike Bagley.
In a change from prior derbies, no check-in station will be set up at Kalinin Bay, as Eric Jordan, who volunteered to run the station for the past 37 years, has retired from that role, McCrehin said.
As usual, the main check-in station and derby headquarters will be on a barge in Crescent Harbor. Sepp and Tracie Castle, aboard the F/V Sheila D, will be at Goddard to check in fish over the first weekend.
North of town, Mike White will check in fish at the Starrigavan boat launch Saturday and Sunday, but not on Monday.
Entry fees are $35 for a single day; $40 for two days; $45 for three; $50 for four; and $55 for five. A five-day family ticket is $85. Prices are $5 higher across the board compared to last year.
McCrehin said he's seen many things in fishing derbies over the years, and recalled the day a few years ago when a woman from Hawaii turned up, asking to fish.
"She came over, thought she could just hop on any boat and go fishing. Couldn't find anybody, even after she showed up with beer and lunch for whoever would take her out," McCrehin said. "She had one of these paddle boards, and we keep a little fishing pole down here for kids. So we gave her some bait from one of the fish getting cleaned out. And she paddled out there in her dry suit, and I think she even bought a ticket, just to participate, and she paddled out there… She was out there for a couple hours and didn't catch anything, but had the time of her life.”
Participants must have valid Alaska fishing licenses with a king salmon stamp, and are reminded to stay safe on the water. The current limit for kings is one fish daily, which must be at least 28 inches long to be kept. Fish are weighed in the round for their official derby weight. Afterward, they go to Sitka Sound Seafoods for processing and sale. The fishing derby has an exception from the state law forbidding the sale of sport-caught fish, and the income supports the nonprofit sportsman's association's year-round activities.
Sitka Sound's fish "have gone from everywhere, from supermarket chains on the East Coast to down the West Coast. They make their money, we make our money and that's what keeps us going,” McCrehin said.
In last year’s derby, 138 people turned in at least one fish, and a total of 427 fish, averaging 13.5 pounds, were handed in, said Marsha Lysons, who runs the derby fish ladder and statistics.
Last year’s winner was Ron Davis with a 39.5 pound Chinook salmon; the all-time record is held by Connie See, who caught a 73 pound, 6 ounce, king in 1956 – the first year of the Sitka Salmon Derby.
