The Seward Silver Salmon Derby will kick off its 70th year on Saturday, Aug. 9.
The annual competition challenges fishers to catch silver salmon in Resurrection Bay, with prizes for the heaviest overall, heaviest of the day, and cumulative. A release from the Seward Chamber of Commerce, who organize the derby, says that there will also be 10 tagged fish with their own prizes, mystery weight prizes, and a guessing game for non-fishers.
“The salmon have been running in Resurrection Bay since mid-June this summer and the Bay is expected to be abundant with silvers this year during Derby week,” the release reads.
The fisher who lands the heaviest fish wins $10,000 and an amount of Kaladi Brothers coffee equal to the weight of their fish. There’s also “Special Fishing Divisions” with awards for heaviest fish caught from a kayak, from a sailboat or from shore.
Fishers can purchase daily derby tickets for $20 or a full derby ticket for $100. Tickets must be purchased before 9 a.m. online or by 1 p.m. in person on each day of competition.
This year’s derby, the release says, is dedicated to Dorothy Urbach, who died this year after decades of contribution to the derby and a 1979 victory.
For more information, find “Seward Chamber of Commerce” or “Seward Silver Salmon Derby” on Facebook.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
