EVERETT – Coho salmon are doing their part to help the Everett Coho Derby live up to its billing as the biggest fishing derby on the West Coast, according to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officials.
“We are experiencing a very strong return of both wild and hatchery coho salmon this fall, many of them returning to the Skagit, Snohomish, and other North Puget Sound Rivers,” Chase Gunnell, communications manager for WDFW tells the EverettPost.com.
Gunnell says more than 900,000 coho are expected to return to Puget Sound rivers this year as part of spawning season. Coho tend to return to freshwater from August into December, Gunnell says, with returns of the fall-run salmon peaking in September and October.
The timing is impeccable for what Dave Miller, President of the Everett Steelhead and Salmon Club calls, “the largest fishing Derby on the West Coast.” The Evertt Coho Derby is slated for September 26 and 27, luring anglers of every experience level with a $10,000 first prize for the fattest silver salmon hooked. But the cash prizes don’t stop there, says Miller.
Second place in the Everett Coho Derby collects $5000, 3rd place $2500, 4th place $1000, 5th place $500 and Miller says the Derby has, “probably $6000 worth of tangible prizes” in addition to the big payouts for the top five spots, giving competitors of all levels a chance to be rewarded for casting a line during this copious coho season.
Miller spoke to the EverettPost.com after spending two days on the waters around Everett and confirmed the WDFW description of the coho run, saying the coho he caught, “most of them are around those cookie cutter (size), they’re six to seven pounds. Then occasionally we’re getting the nine plus pounds. I’ve seen fish in the lower teens coming where we landed, so that’s a good size fish for a coho.”
The timing of the silvers’ migration is synching up nicely for the Everett Coho Derby. Miller says, “Normally, I don’t fish for coho until around Labor Day. But this year, a couple weeks before that, they started coming in pretty good, and we’ve had tremendous success just about every day we’ve been out.” It should add up to a memorable weekend for anglers who cast a line in this year’s derby, dreaming of netting that $10,000 top prize.
WDFW interviews of returning fisherman on Sunday September 21 reported, 854 coho caught among 189 boats with 558 anglers at the Everett Ramp (formerly Norton Street Ramp (2010)) Area 9, Admiralty Inlet.
Tickets for the Everett Coho Derby are $30 but kids under 12 are free, Miller says. “Every kid 12 and under, whether they catch a fish or not, will get a prize of some type. We’re all about the kids,” Miller professes, citing the family-friendly nature of the derby.
All proceeds from the Derby go to support the many fish enhancement projects of the Everett Steelhead and Salmon and Snohomish Sportsman clubs to include stocking of local lakes with trout, a salmon fish hatchery raising fish for release in the Skykomish River, carcass planting in the upper Pilchuck River, many different youth activities including trout clinics/fishing events, high school/college scholarships and sending kids to Youth Conservation Camp as well as many other activities, says Miller.
For tickets and ticket information, click here.
For complete derby rules to insure you’re eligible at weigh-in, click here.
Here’s how the Everett Coho Derby grew from fry-like beginnings to its present-day popularity. According to the EverettCohoDerby.com website, in 1993, the local fishing business was in a quandary. In an attempt to protect many threatened runs of coho salmon, the State of Washington declared much of the salt water off limits to salmon fishing and closed most of the local rivers. The only area available was the Snohomish River system and a small “Bubble” right outside the mouth of the Snohomish River. Interest in salmon fishing was low and the sporting goods stores were worried about sales of fishing gear.
One of the local store managers, Fabian Loomas from Jerry’s Surplus in Everett, approached Jim Brauch of the Everett Steelhead and Salmon Club and Mark Spada of the Snohomish Sportsmen’s Club with a proposal. If they would put together a salmon derby targeting the small area, which was open, Fabian would try to solicit prizes from the various distributors. In addition, if they didn’t sell enough tickets to cover the prize money, he would guarantee the prize money would be paid. The decision was made quickly!
That first year it was called the Snohomish River Coho Derby and they made about $400-$500 per club. Not a lot by today’s standards but in those days, most of their club’s income came from small raffles and coffee rest stop donations.
About the year 2000, Mac McReynolds, a representative from Olympic Boats, a local retail boat sales operation, approached the two clubs to see if they could help sponsor the derby. “Mac” McReynolds, to whom the clubs say they will always be grateful, arranged for a boat, motor and trailer to be given as a grand prize with no cost to the derby. Ticket sales surged that year, furnishing money for the many enhancement projects carried on by both clubs. Up until a couple years ago, the boat, motor and trailer was a mainstay of the raffle portion of the derby and has helped grow to what it is today.
From these humble beginnings, the derby, now called the Everett Coho Derby, has become the largest derby on the West Coast of North America, based upon numbers of participants
The two-day event is Saturday and Sunday, September 26-27. Saturday’s weigh-in is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday’s weigh-in is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There are two locations to register your biggest coho’s weight, at Edmonds, next to the Port of Edmonds office, 458 Admiral Way, and in Everett at Harbor Marine, 1032 W Marine View, on 10th Street at the entrance to the Everett Marina north boat ramp.
WDFW recommends salmon anglers always double check the fishing regulations, including any emergency Fishing Rule Changes, or check the Fish Washington mobile app before hitting the water.