Eric Halstead was at the top of the Wrangell King Salmon Derby scoreboard with a 43.4-pound catch as of Sunday evening, five days into the competition.
The derby runs through July 3, with $7,900 in cash prizes.
As of Sunday evening, 27 salmon had been entered, according to the chamber of commerce, which sponsors the event. Halstead hooked his salmon last Friday, near Blake Island.
Stanley Johnson, of Wyoming, was in second place, with a 41.8-pound king that he caught near Found Island on Sunday. He won $500 for catching the largest fish on Father’s Day.
Dave Svendsen was in third, at 39.9 pounds. He won $500 for netting the biggest fish on the first day of the derby last Wednesday, outweighing Diana Nore’s 38.4-pound king. Nore was in fourth place overall on Sunday. Svendsen hooked his salmon near Blake Island.
Parker Mork was at the top of the leader board for kids 12 and younger with his 32.9-pound king, caught Sunday near Blake Island.
The largest king salmon entered in the derby will win $3,000; second place is worth $2,000; and third place wins $1,000.
Tickets to enter the derby are $25 and entrants also need to have a state sportfishing license and a state king salmon stamp. Alaska residents under 18 don’t need a license, but they still need a ticket.
Last year’s derby was the first in Wrangell since 2017, as the fishing effort was cut back to help protect weak king salmon returns.
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