GARDINER — Jerry Thomas of Mount Vernon won the 2015 Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby.
Thomas caught an 18.95-pound salmon Sunday morning to claim the derby’s $10,000 prize for the second time in three years.
The $2,000 second place winner was Julia Hunter of Neah Bay with a 16.60 pound fish.
The $1,000 third place prize — donated by 7 Cedars Casino of Blyn, a loyal supporter of the derby every year — went to Ron Lampers of Snohomish with a 16.25-pound salmon.
Excellent weather and good fishing reports led to the derby’s best ticket sales since 2003 — a total of 860 tickets sold. Big prizes and great conditions drew a large number of competing anglers.
This year’s event included many first-time participants, a good sign for future derbies.
The most successful fishing area over the weekend was in the traditional derby hub, near Discovery Bay and Protection Island.
Fishing results were the best ever: 292 winter blackmouth over 6 pounds were submitted, far exceeding last year’s total of 171, and handily beating the previous year’s record of 249. The average weight was 9.3 pounds. (All weights are in decimal pounds, not pounds and ounces.)
Anglers were in competition for a big prize list worth $22,269 — including a $10,000 first prize plus four $500 mystery fish prizes, open to any submitted fish of at least 6 pounds.
The final prize ladder had 45 winning fish. The smallest prize-winner was 11.7 pounds, and the winners had an average prize-winning weight of 13.2 pounds.
The large cash prizes are funded through ticket sales, but all other prizes were donated by area residents and businesses.
Net proceeds from each derby support local emergency services and other community needs. Gardiner Salmon Derby Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, runs this ongoing annual event.
Dan Tatum, President of Gardiner Salmon Derby Association, is delighted with the results.
“Last year we got slammed by the weather. This year was the opposite — great weather with good fishing,” he said.
“Planning was a bit confusing, due to the closure of [Marine] Area 7 and the cancellation of the Anacortes derby, the biggest derby in the area.
“But everything came together for us here in Gardiner.”
This will be Tatum’s final year with the derby.
He led the derby through a dozen hectic years, since spearheading the event’s restart in 2003 after its cancelation in 1998 due to a surprise closure of the fishery.
“I’m sorry to leave the derby but am glad to see it in such great condition, and with such a strong bank balance from this year to support the community center and other important area needs.”
Plans for using the 2015 derby proceeds will be decided with community input.
Tatum notes that donation plans will be discussed at the Appreciation Dinner, an annual community potluck dinner scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday ,April 4, at the Gardiner Community Center.
The dinner coincides with the association’s annual meetings. All area residents are welcome; visit the group’s website for details.
The Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby uses selective fishery exclusively — only clipped-fin hatchery fish can be submitted.
Because fishing derbies put pressure on wild stocks, this annual event provides leadership for a sustainable, year-round fishery.
The derby is part of the Northwest Salmon Derby Series, run by the Northwest Marine Trade Association.
All derby ticket holders are entered in the trade association’s end-of-year grand-prize boat drawing, which will take place in September.
