The Golden North Salmon Derby is an annual salmon fishing competition held in Juneau, Alaska in August. The object of the event is to catch the largest Chinook or Coho salmon over a period of three days; pink and chum salmon are not accepted.
The area appropriate for fishing is known as the derby grounds. Its northern, eastern, southern and western limits are Point Bridget, Greely Point, Twin Point, and Point Couverton, respectively. Contestants may anchor their vessels overnight in Swanson Harbor, southwest of Point Couverton, but this area is not allowed for fishing.
Prizes are awarded to the top hundred finishers, including cash and gift certificates. Fish can be weighed at any of four stations at Shelter Island, Amalga Harbor, Auke Bay, or Douglas Island. Additionally, the organizers release twelve specially-tagged salmon into the derby ground. One of these is chosen as a special prize which earns $100,000 if it is caught. Competitors must purchase tickets to compete in the derby.
The proceeds from the sale of the turned-in fish are given to the Territorial Sportsmen Scholarship Foundation, which awards academic scholarships to local students. This has been a part of the derby since 1953.
Read more about Golden North Salmon Derby: History
Famous quotes containing the words golden, north and/or salmon:
“All in the golden afternoon
Full leisurely we glide;
For both our oars, with little skill,
By little arms are plied,
While little hands make vain pretense
Our wanderings to guide.”
—Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (1832–1898)
“The discovery of the North Pole is one of those realities which could not be avoided. It is the wages which human perseverance pays itself when it thinks that something is taking too long. The world needed a discoverer of the North Pole, and in all areas of social activity, merit was less important here than opportunity.”
—Karl Kraus (1874–1936)
“There are some achievements which are never done in the presence of those who hear of them. Catching salmon is one, and working all night is another.”
—Anthony Trollope (1815–1882)