By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Patrick Davis turned in a 35.8-pound king salmon to move to the top of the fish ladder on Monday, in the first weekend of the 66th Sitka Salmon Derby.
The Sitka Sportsman’s Association sponsors the annual event which drew just under 100 enthusiastic anglers for the first of two weekends of fishing.
“It was a good number – our die-hards all came out,” said John McCrehin, association president and derby chairman. “We do have a lot of fairweather fishermen who go out when the weather is nice ... We felt it went well.”
After the first weekend of fishing the leader board is as follows, with all results unofficial at this time:
1. Patrick Davis, 35.8 pounds.
2. Renee Wheat, 30.7 pounds.
3. Keri Gray, 29.5 pounds
4. Aaron Swanson, 27.8 pounds.
5. Brett Haavig, 26.5 pounds
6. Allen Borbridge, 26.4 pounds
7. Lola Haley (age 7) 25 pounds
8. Michael Smith Jr., 23.7 pounds
9. Larry Fitzsimmons, 23.5 pounds.
10. Matt Golden, 23.5 pounds.
The bag limit for resident anglers is three kings per day and no annual limit; for nonresidents it’s one per day with an annual limit of four.
A special feature this year was “Take Vicki Fishing,” in honor of three-time champion Vicki Baggen, who was unable to participate this year due to illness. She won in 2000, with a 48-pounder, in 2009 with a 56-pounder, and in 2018 with a 33-pounder.
“Three times in 20 years!” said Marsha Lysons, fish ladder chairman.
Patrick Davis stands with his derby-leading fish. (Photo provided)
Anglers were invited to take a flyer that featured Vicki with one of her derby-winning kings, pose for a photo with the flyer if they caught a fish, and send in the photo – to show they’d taken Vicki fishing – to be entered in a contest. A member of the Baggen family will draw a name out of a hat, and the winner will be treated to a weekend stay at the Harbor Heights Penthouse on Harbor Drive, and dinner at the Nugget.
“It’s just great to see all the support for Vicki,” said Lysons. “The Baggen family has always been a big supporter of the derby.”
Renee Wheat, with her 30.7 pound catch turned in Saturday, held the lead for much of the weekend, until Davis turned in his Chinook salmon Monday evening. The Facebook post of his leading fish went up at 5:27 p.m. on Memorial Day.
First prize, for the largest fish caught over the two-weekend event, is $6,000 by the Sportsman’s Association; and two round-trip tickets donated by Alaska Airlines.
Second prize is a Mercury kicker engine, from Gary’s Outboard; and third prize is a Honda outboard donated by Island Marine. There are dozens of other prizes for hidden weights, largest fish by a young angler, and memorial prizes. A special prize is given for the 66th salmon entered at the Crescent Harbor, and outlying stations at Goddard and Kalinin Bay.
There is also a prize for most pounds caught.
Keri Gray is leading the pack in that category, with 151.6 pounds, followed by 13-year-old Riley Bernhardt, with 150.5 pounds, and Brian LeBlanc, with 129.6 pounds.
Derby organizers said 214 fish were turned in over the first three days, and 95 participated in the event. The average weight of the fish was 14.9 pounds.
Lysons said only one participant turned in three fish for each of the three days fished. A few caught three in one day, then one or two on the others.
She added that it’s a good idea to buy a derby ticket “just in case.” She said someone came in with a 46.8 pound salmon, which would’ve been the biggest fish the derby had seen in 10 years, but didn’t have a derby ticket. The angler could’ve been eligible for some $9,500 in prizes, Lysons said.
Two more days of fishing are ahead next Saturday and Sunday, before an unofficial winner is declared. The awards ceremony is 7 p.m. June 17 at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
