Hello Anglers,
The 2016 King Salmon Derby in Ketchikan, Alaska will begin Saturday May 28th, 29th, & 30th in celebration of Memorial Day weekend and continue on during the weekends of June 4th & 5th and June 11th & 12th. This 69th annual Derby will be no different than past derbies. Ketchikan’s surrounding waters will fill with over a thousand local and visiting families, friends and fishing legends ready to compete for the top 30 Kings on the leaderboard. As I mentioned in my last e-mail, it takes a patient, determined, and competitive individual to fish for King Salmon.
Ketchikan’s King Salmon Derby first began over half a century ago. In 1944 the derby ran all summer long, May through September, and was operated by the Alaska Sport and Wildlife Club. Today the Ketchikan Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association (CHARR) organizes the derby and it runs for three consecutive weekends beginning Memorial Day weekend.
Our salmon derby has a long line of winners including the very first winner Homan McLane, who caught a 44 lb. king in 1944. Milton Fox reeled in a 79 lb. King salmon in 1956 and still holds the record for largest derby salmon ever caught in Ketchikan. Even more impressive is our derby’s youngest winner, a 10 year old resident who landed a 42.7 lb. king in 2008. Let’s not forget our most recent winner, a local 14-year-old resident who took home the 2015 grand prize of $10,000 with a 40.3 lb. King, also the derby’s smallest winner to date.
No matter how large or small the winning derby salmon is, you can always count on big prizes! With top prizes ranging from vehicles, freezers, and airline tickets in the past, the derby offers over 100 thousand dollars in prizes today. You can place on the leader board by being in the top thirty, but prize categories go far beyond the leader board. Prize categories include: men’s & women’s hidden weights, largest fish caught from a skiff 16’ or smaller, largest fish caught by a Yacht Club member and more. There is even a youth leader board to make this a real family affair!
All of the King Salmon Derby proceeds benefit Ketchikan’s community and youth. In the past, proceeds have paid for updating the towns Welcome Arch in 1950 and in 1954 it funded the construction of the Deer Mountain Hatchery. Since 1969 CHARR has been managing an educational scholarship for students interested in studying subjects related to fish and game.
Bringing local families and visitors alike to Ketchikan’s fishing grounds, our King Salmon Derby will forever demonstrate Ketchikan’s commitment to sport fishing. If you are interested in potentially becoming part of our derby history, then contact Oasis Alaska Charters to start planning your 2016 Alaska fishing vacation today!