Maybe the fish were resting too after the Fourth of July. Whatever the reason, no one in the fishing derby turned in any entries on Sunday, which meant that the $300 prize for the halibut and $300 prize for the coho salmon closest to a hidden weight went unclaimed.

The chamber of commerce-sponsored fishing derby is offering hidden weight prizes on four special weekends during the three-month derby, which ends Sept. 7.

The last two weekends with the special prizes for coho and halibut are Aug. 8-9 (during Bearfest) and Labor Day weekend Sept. 5-7.

As of Sunday evening, July 5, the leaders in the overall derby were Bristol Wagner, of Cherry Valley, California, in first place for the largest halibut with a 133.6-pound catch on June 26. Jeff Murtaugh held down second place for halibut at 111.2 pounds, followed by Charlie Wagner, also visiting from Cherry Valley, at 87.4 pounds.

Wrangell’s Diana Nore-Ellison held on to first place for king salmon with a 27.9-pound catch that she reeled in on June 27. Jody Clark had moved into second place, with a 22.4-pound catch. Roman Jaques, of Spring Creek, Nevada, was in third at 22.3 pounds. 

Nore-Ellison continued to hold the lead in the coho derby as of Sunday, with a 6.7-pound entry.

Derby tickets, at $35 each, are available at Sentry Hardware, the Stikine Inn, Alaska Vistas, Angerman’s, TK’s Mini Mart and the chamber office in the Nolan Center.

The largest king, coho and halibut turned in over the three-month derby will earn each angler a $1,000 cash prize.

The weekday weigh-in station for derby entries is at Peninsula Seafoods at the Marine Service Center.

Boaters who bring in catches evenings and weekends can go to a weigh-in station at Reliance Harbor, across from the harbormaster’s office, or call ahead to arrange a weigh-in at 907-874-3901, 907-305-0552 or 907-305-0553.