Fish On! Full Steam Ahead for West Marine Northwest Salmon Derby Series

July 08 2016

Recreational fishing re-opens in Puget Sound

The Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA) is delighted to announce that NOAA-Fisheries today approved the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and tribal officials’ joint management plan for 2016-2017 Puget Sound salmon fisheries. This paves the way for six remaining derbies in the 2016 West Marine Northwest Salmon Derby Series to proceed as planned. The series kicked off with the Bellingham Salmon Derby, July 8-10.

“This is wonderful news for the recreational fishing community – anglers and businesses alike,” said George Harris, president of the NMTA. “The derby series traditionally lures 7,000 to 8,000 anglers every year and gives them an opportunity to get out on the water, hone their skills, participate in the sport they love and compete for bragging rights. The Puget Sound salmon sport fishery is also an important economic engine in Washington, generating more than 500,000 angler trips and $100 million in economic value annually.”

Upcoming derbies include:
NEW for 2016: The Big One Salmon Derby, Lake Coeur d’Alene: July 27 – 31, Awards August 6
South King County PSA Salmon Derby: August 6
Gig Harbor PSA Salmon Derby: August 13
Columbia River Fall Salmon Derby: August 20
Willapa Bay Salmon Derby: September 3

The five remaining derbies focus on hatchery chinook. Two coho derbies (Edmonds and Everett) were cancelled as under the terms of the agreement there will be no coho fisheries this year in marine areas of Puget Sound.

The West Marine Northwest Salmon Derby Series was started in 2004 by the NMTA to promote sport salmon fishing in the region. The NMTA partners with fishing derbies throughout the region to increase recreational fishing participation and opportunities. It had six derbies the first year, eventually growing to 14. (For 2016 it will be 12.)

Anglers who fish in any of the derbies are eligible to win the grand prize of a fully-loaded Hewescraft 220 OceanPro valued at $85,000. Powered by a Mercury 225 Verado and 9.9 ProKicker on an EZ-Loader Tandem axle galvanized trailer, it’s fully rigged with Scotty downriggers, Lowrance electronics and a Dual Electronics Stereo. When an angler purchases a derby ticket, they are automatically entered into the drawing for the grand prize boat. If an angler enters all 12 derbies, the angler’s name will be entered 12 times into the drawing for the Grand Prize Boat. The grand prize winner will be drawn at the kick off of the 2017 series at the Bayside Marine Salmon Derby in Everett on November 6.

“With cancellation of the Edmonds and Everett derbies there will be fewer entries for the grand prize drawing this year,” said Tony Floor, NMTA’s director of fishing. “If you participate in any of the derbies, your chances have never been higher to win this amazing dream boat. I’d encourage all anglers to take a look at the schedule and plan to fish in as many of the remaining derbies as they can.”

Anglers also have a chance to win cash prizes in the Mercury Marine Challenge which awards exclusive cash prizes to the top three winners in any Northwest Salmon Derby event if your boat is primarily equipped with Mercury outboard engine(s) (2012 or newer). Prizes are as follows: 1st Place: $3,000,
2nd Place: $2,000 and 3rd Place: $1,000.