DISCOVERY BAY — North Olympic Peninsula anglers had a good showing at the three-day Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby as they had five of the top-10 blackmouth chinook caught at the end of the derby Monday.
They just didn’t wrestle away the top spot and the $10,000 first-place prize from John Otness of Tacoma.
Otness caught a 17.60-pound salmon Sunday and it held up for first through Monday at noon.
Jumping to second and third on the final day were Steven Sevilla of Discovery Bay and David Hansen of Port Angeles, respectively.
Sevilla landed a 15.50-pounder while Hansen caught a fish 15.30.
John Calkins of Shelton, No. 2 for the first two days, fell to No. 4 with his 15-pound salmon.
Sequim’s Thomas Casey took fifth place with a 14.65-pound fish while Renton’s Cheri Morgan was sixth at 14.30.
Coming in at seventh place was John Labbe of Port Angeles at 14.25 pounds while right behind him in eighth was Josef Scott of Allyn at 14.20.
Also finishing in the top-10 were Derek Madison of Port Angeles in ninth at 14.10, just beating out Gary Randall of Federal Way, whose fish came in at the same weight, 14.10.
From fourth place down, all the fish were caught Sunday except for Madison, who caught his Saturday.
More than 100 anglers brought in salmon to the five weigh stations.
This winter hatchery-marked chinook fishery is part of the Northwest Marine Trade Association’s “Northwest Salmon Derby Series,” and covers 500 square miles of fishing area, with five weigh stations.
The derby expanded into Port Angeles last year and attracts nearly 1,000 anglers, coming from all over western Washington.
It is considered the largest derby on the Peninsula.
More than $21,000 in prize money and gear was given away.
The Gardiner Salmon Derby Association, a nonprofit corporation that supports area emergency and other services, sponsors the event.
