Salmon derby launches on Saturday

The month-long King Salmon Derby will get to a start on Saturday, the 65th in Wrangell's long-running competition.

Wrangell's annual derby is organized by the Chamber of Commerce, and during its month long run draws close to 1,000 participants. Last year's grand prize winner was Malia McIntyre, who brought in a 46.7 pound king salmon toward the end of the derby. As with last year, first prize for 2017 will yield a $6,000 jackpot. Additional prizes for second through fourth place are $4,000, $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.

There are other prizes scattered throughout the derby as well, with a $2,500 prize for the biggest king landed over Memorial Day weekend, this year spanning May 27 to 29. Each week a $500 prize also goes out to the angler with the largest king caught and entered.

The largest king salmon 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 is also 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 it has gone unclaimed for over 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 a sterling silver salmon bracelet, valued at $350. All three prizes are awarded in addition to other applicable prizes. Cash prizes will also go to the 10 kids with largest kings, and special prizes for youth include a drone donated by First Bank.

There are also rewards for the best fish caught on camera. The best photo chosen will be featured in next year's derby booklet, which is put together by Southeast Design and Promotion. 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.

Three weigh-in stations will be available 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. Another 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.

The derby begins at 6 a.m. Contestants found fishing before then on opening day will be disqualified for the entire day. The contest lasts through June 11 at 9 p.m. The awards night for the derby prize hand-outs is set for June 15, inside the Nolan Center at 6:30 p.m.

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.

Tickets this year will cost $35. In addition to the derby ticket, participants will need to have a current fishing license with applicable salmon stamps. Regular sport fishing licenses for residents cost only $29 per year, and the annual salmon stamp is an extra $10. For non-residents, one-, three-, seven- and 14-day licenses can be purchased for from $25 to $105 or an annual license for $145. King salmon stamps cost between $15 and $100.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game sport regulations for District 8 apply to the derby. Derby entrants are allowed only one rod only while fishing, and can only use 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.

As with previous years, federal 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. These will be initially deducted from prize monies and submitted to the IRS under the winner's Social Security number.