Doug Lux didn’t have to travel very far to become the first day leader of the Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby.
Fishing just 100 yards out in front of the Port Townsend Boat Haven, Lux caught a 17.35-pound blackmouth mooching herring in 35 feet of water early Saturday morning.
The first fish to the docks at 7:27 a.m., it ended up holding on to the top spot in the ladder once fishing concluded at 3 p.m.
As it turned out, the fish ended a bit of a slump for the 45-year-old Port Townsend native.
“I hadn’t seen a decent fish since this summer,” said Lux, who’s fished in and around Admiralty Inlet since he was five.
“It makes it a whole heck of lot easier to get out on the water when you’ve already got one fish.”
Anglers were greeted by strong winds across derby waters Saturday, with the conditions hampering the efforts of many of the 800 or so ticket buyers.
A total of 80 fish were submitted to the ladder, with 66 of them getting turned in to the Port Angeles weigh station on Ediz Hook.
The other 14 were spread out among Freshwater Bay (7), John Wayne Marina (3), Gardiner (1) and Port Townsend (3).
Two of the top three fish came out of Port Townsend, however. That was led, of course, by Lux’s 17.35-pound beauty.
“It took us about 10 minutes [to bring it in] because the wind was blowing so hard,” Lux said.
“You’ve pretty much got to take that in this derby.”
Lux should know.
He and his family have participated in the event formerly known as the Discovery Bay Salmon Derby for years. His brother, Brian, actually won the 1982 derby.
If the status quo remains the same during the next two days, Doug will be the one picking up the $10,000 first prize Monday afternoon in Gardiner.
Derby hours are from daylight to 3 p.m. today and daylight to noon Monday.
The awards ceremony is set for Monday at 2 p.m. at the Gardiner Boat Ramp.
