GARDINER — It’s not too late to get tickets for the 2020 Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby online.
This year’s annual event, which has been held on the Olympic Peninsula for more than 40 years, will take place Friday through Sunday with a free barbecue at noon with the awards ceremony starting at 3 p.m. Ticket sales end today for online sales.
First prize is $10,000, with many other cash and merchandise prizes including four $500 mystery fish prizes. The total prize ladder is expected to reach $20,000. This event is hosted by the Gardiner Salmon Derby Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that supports area scholarships, community and emergency services.
This derby uses a selective fishery — clipped fin hatchery fish only. This winter blackmouth classic is part of the Northwest Marine Trade Association’s Northwest Fishing Derby Series.
Ticket holders are automatically entered into the NMTA prize boat drawing to be awarded later this year. The 2020 boat is a fully loaded KingFisher 2025 Escape Hardtop valued at more than $75,000, powered with Yamaha 200- and 9.9-horsepower motors on an EZ-Loader trailer, fully rigged with Shoxs seats, Scotty downriggers, Raymarine electronics, a Dual Electronics stereo, a WhoDat Tower and Burnewiin accessories.
The 2020 prize boat will be on display at the awards ceremony Sunday starting with the free barbecue at the Gardiner Boat Ramp.
Tickets can be purchased online for $44 though the derby’s website via signmeup.com. People can visit www.gardinersalmonderby.org or www.facebook.com/salmonderby for ticket sale locations, online ticket sales, and other details. Questions regarding ticket sales, prize donations or derby rules can also be emailed to kathy@gardinersalmonderby.org.
The event spans 500 square miles of fishing the north Olympic Peninsula, with weigh stations at five launch ramps: Freshwater Bay, Ediz Hook in Port Angeles, John Wayne Marina in Sequim, Gardiner Beach and the Port Townsend Boat Haven. Derby volunteers will inspect and weigh submitted fish, which are then returned to the angler.
