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