The 64th annual Seward Silver Salmon tournament starts this weekend, with anglers from across Alaska ready to try their hand at reeling in cash prizes.

The silver salmon have returned to Resurrection Bay, with cohos being caught as close as Caines Head. The fish are expected to move in more toward the mouth of the bay, offering anglers on boat and land the chance to win one of the many cash prizes offered by the Seward Chamber of Commerce during the tournament.

The tournament runs from Saturday, Aug. 10 to Sunday, Aug. 18, with ticket sales starting on Friday at the Silver Salmon Derby Booth, located at the B-Dock fish cleaning station in the Seward Boat Harbor. Tickets can also be purchased at The Fish House and other businesses throughout the Seward Harbor District.

Everyone participating in the derby must purchase tickets. They are $10 per day or a full derby ticket for $50. Derby booth and weigh-in stations will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three heaviest fish caught out of Seward and daily prizes will be awarded for the 64th heaviest fish and a mystery, random weight announced over the derby’s personal VHF radio channel.

“The silvers have been in Resurrection Bay for well over a month and the fishing is picking up closer to town,” said Seward Chamber of Commerce Communications Director Jen Leahy. “Some anglers are having more success with trolling than mooching. As always, we’ve got lots of great prizes, including a $50,000 tagged fish and plenty of daily prizes opportunities.”

Over a dozen silver salmon are tagged each year, with $50,000 or two round-trip Alaska Airlines tickets for two going to whoever is lucky enough to catch one.

“This is one of Alaska’s oldest and largest fishing derbies,” Leahy said. “A lot of people started fishing this as kids. It’s one of those great Alaskan summer traditions, a sort of homecoming for anglers all across Southcentral.”

This year’s event is more than a homecoming, though, it’s also a celebration of Monty and Florita Richardson, long-time Alaskans who helped shape Seward’s charter fishing industry and were involved in participated in the derby for 60 years. For more information on the Seward Silver Salmon Derby visit salmon.seward.com.

Silver salmon hang in the Seward Boat Harbor during the 2018 Seward Silver Salmon Derby, which starts this Saturday, Aug. 10. (Photo courtesy of Seward Chamber of Commerce)