King salmon derby launches Saturday

Anglers are fueling up their boats and assembling their gear in preparation for the 64th Annual King Salmon Derby, which starts on Saturday.

There are only a few changes to this year’s derby from past contests, among which will be three weigh-in stations around town. During weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. stations will be located at the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce office by the city dock and at Petro Marine at Inner Harbor. An additional station will be set up at the Harbormaster’s office for weekday nights from 5 to 9 p.m. and on weekends, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

This year’s derby will start at 6 a.m. Saturday, lasting through June 12 at 9 p.m. Wrangell’s annual derby is organized by the Chamber of Commerce, and during its month long run draws close to 1,000 participants from all corners of the globe.

Tickets this year will cost $35, an increase of $5 over last year. The additional fee will go toward paying for weigh-in attendants, as well as a new fourth place prize added that is worth $1,000.

In addition to the derby ticket, participants will need to have a current fishing license with applicable salmon stamps. One-, three-, seven- and 14-day licenses can be purchased by out-of-state anglers, or they can opt for an annual license for $145. Regular sport fishing licenses for residents cost only $24 per year.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game sport regulations apply, though the special extension of two rods per sport fisherman for kings in District 8 this season will not comply with derby rules. Derby entrants are allowed only one rod only while derby fishing, and only using equipment that reflects good sporting ethics and customs. Entrants must catch their own salmon, both hooking and playing the fish themselves without any assistance beyond gaffing and netting.

This year’s planning committee was headed up by Shawn Curley, who hoped to continue the legacy of the late Fred Angerman Sr., a longtime committee chair and the contest’s very first winner back in 1953.

“I just want to keep seeing it grow,” Curley said.

Last year’s grand prize winner was Chad Smith, with a 42.7 pound king salmon. This year’s first-place prize will yield a $6,000 jackpot, with additional $4,000, $2,000 and $1,000 prizes going for the second-, third- and fourth-biggest kings caught.

Other cash prizes include a $2,500 prize for the biggest king caught over the Memorial Day weekend, which is from May 28 to 30. For other times, the largest king caught and entered each of the four weeks of the derby wins the angler $500. The largest King caught and entered on May 28 will win an additional $250 as part of the Aileen Meissner Memorial Prize.

The first king weighing 50 pounds or more will be worth a $500 prize. The last time a 50-plus pounder was caught was in 2009, by derby winner Wayne Spencer. A similar prize is in effect for 60-plus pound kings, though such a large fish has not been caught during the derby in 30 years.

The Art Clark Pioneer Prize worth $250 will go for the largest king entered by an angler aged 65 or older, while the largest king caught and entered by a woman will win her a sterling silver salmon bracelet, valued at $350. All three prizes are awarded in addition to other applicable prizes.

Youth prizes for the three largest Kings caught and entered include $250, $100 and $50 prizes. Wrangell’s Wells Fargo will be chipping in a drone from Ottesen’s as well for the first-place winner.

Contestants must be present to claim derby prizes or else have someone present to accept them on their behalf, as derby organizers can no longer ship or hold prizes. Contestants are limited to one prize for salmon caught, regardless of the number entered except for bonus prizes as determined by the derby’s committee.

A new policy last year, once again applicable taxes for all combinations of cash prizes worth $5,000 or more will be withheld from winning sums up front, in accordance with Internal Revenue Service rules. Twenty-eight percent will be initially deducted from these sums and submitted to the IRS under the winner’s Social Security number.

Copies of the new rule book come with the purchase of derby tickets at participating businesses in town, or can be read online at the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.wrangellchamber.org.