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…The salmon that is…
The 2013 Salmon Derby kicked off Saturday in Wrangell.
This is the 61st annual derby in Wrangell. It runs now until 9pm on June 9th.
The Wrangell derby was the fourth in Southeast Alaska when it started in 1953, following Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan.
Fred Angerman Senior took home the prize that inaugural year.
The Chamber of Commerce began sponsoring the derby three years later and is the organizer today.
2013 Wrangell Salmon Derby fishing boundaries – Courtesy of the Chamber of Commerce
Looking back to last year, David Svendsen took first with a 46.5 pound king.
Shawn Curley came in second at 43.3 pounds.
Travis Bangs took third with his 42.4 pounder.
The number to beat is record-holder Doris Iverson’s whopping 74.4 pound king in 1955.
In the youth category, Hunter Wiederspohn took first last year with a 37.9 pound king.
Logan Ritchie came second with a 30.6 pounder.
And John Buness took third at 29.7 pounds.
The number to beat there is Breanna Miethe’s (Mee-thee) 44.8 pound king in 2003.
There is over $30,000 in prizes for this year’s derby. First place will take home $6000. Second place takes $4000. And third place brings in $2000.
People aged 65 and better can vie for the $250 Art Clark Pioneer prize. It’s named for the derby lover and former author of the newspaper column “Wrangellitis.”
There are four weigh stations around town.
Weekdays from 9am until 5pm Wrangell Oil and Delta Western will weigh salmon.
Weekdays from 5pm until 9pm, fish can be weighed at the Wrangell Chamber’s City Dock station.
Weekends from 9am until 9pm, salmon should be taken to the Harbormaster’s Office.
The Harbor department wants to remind everyone to please follow posted boat launch rules.
It requests that refuse be left in appropriate bins. There are separate receptacles for nets, used oil, and household-like garbage.
For more information, you can check out the 2013 Salmon Derby Booklet.
