Tickets are on sale for the 2016 Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby set for Friday through Sunday, Feb. 19-21, rather than what has been a traditional slot over Presidents Day (Feb. 13-15) …
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Jerry Thomas, from Mount Vernon, with the salmon that took the first prize in the 34th Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby in 2015; he caught the fish (18.95 decimal pounds) Sunday morning off Diamond Point. Thomas also won the derby in 2013. Photo by Steve Mullensky
Tickets are on sale for the 2016 Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby set for Friday through Sunday, Feb. 19-21, rather than what has been a traditional slot over Presidents Day (Feb. 13-15) weekend.
All tickets are sold in advance, with sales ending on Wednesday, Feb. 17. No tickets are to be sold the day of the derby.
Formerly known as the Discovery Bay Salmon Derby, the event features 500 square miles of fishing area, five weigh stations, a $10,000 first prize, and four $500 “Mystery Fish” prizes. The winter blackmouth classic, which is part of the Northwest Marine Trade Association’s Northwest Salmon Derby Series, is hosted by the Gardiner Salmon Derby Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that supports area emergency response and other services.
“What could be better than spending a weekend in February enjoying fishing on the Olympic Peninsula?” asked Barry Wood, president of the Gardiner Salmon Derby Association, in a press release. “As always, we will be awarding lots of great prizes.”
The event spans the North Olympic Peninsula, with weigh stations at five launch ramps, including Freshwater Bay, Ediz Hook in Port Angeles, John Wayne Marina in Sequim, Gardiner Beach and Port Townsend Boat Haven. Derby volunteers inspect and weigh submitted fish, which are then returned to the angler. The derby accepts clipped-fin hatchery fish only.
The awards ceremony is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21 at the Gardiner boat ramp, an hour later than in previous years. A free barbecue, beginning at noon, and a cash prize raffle are also set for Sunday, and the Northwest Marine Trade Association is to be displaying its 2016 grand prize boat (valued at more than $65,000), a drawing for which is to be held later in the year. All derby ticket holders are automatically entered into the drawing.
Tickets can be purchased from many area merchants; cost is $40 for one day or all three days. Tickets can also be purchased online for $42.50. No-cost tickets for wounded warriors are also available online.
Ticket sales end Feb. 17; the number of tickets is limited, so early purchasing is encouraged. Proceeds fund emergency response and other support services in Gardiner, Diamond Point, Blyn and nearby communities.
For more information, including derby rules, or to purchase tickets, visit
gardinersalmonderby.org.
