Seward’s August 8-16 Silver Derby Has Been A Community Salmon Staple For Over 70 Years

The following appears in the August issue of Alaska Sporting Journal:

BY CHRIS COCOLES

Accessibility is one of the main attractions of this month’s Seward Silver Salmon Derby. And over the seven-plus decades of this iconic annual Kenai Peninsula event, its organizers have always delivered a memorable experience for anglers.

“Seward is traditionally a fishing community, and that’s how it started in the 1950s – basically as a celebration of all the coho that we get every year; just an abundance (of fish). It was started by locals, and it’s been a community event ever since,” said Liz Marsh, Seward Chamber of Commerce communications and community coordinator. “And now a lot of people from out of town – throughout the state and even out of state – come up for the tournament.”

And while fishing from boats – both private craft and local charter vessels that book guests during the derby – is popular with participants, it’s not the only avenue. There are also separate categories for those anglers who fish from shore – a popular option – and a kayak division that Marsh hopes will continue to attract new entrants during this year’s August 8-16 derby.

“I think it is unique to have so many different categories. And it removes that barrier if you don’t have a boat. You don’t need a boat,” Marsh said. “You can’t snag, but you can definitely catch fish from shore. And if you don’t have a boat, you can get on a charter boat and register as an individual.”

As for the kayak division, Marsh is making a push to attract more entrants. She and her husband are also avid kayakers, but there hasn’t been a lot of fishers in kayaks in recent years.

Marsh plans to send fliers to kayak-centric businesses throughout the area and statewide to get more buzz about this portion of the derby. It can be a very enjoyable experience fishing for silvers out of a kayak in and around Seward’s harbor.

“I’ve kayaked in the bay lots of times, and at times it’s really, really nice when it’s like a lake,” Marsh said. “And we did have to put out a weather warning last year for rougher waters. But it’s usually not bad in the bay.”

“If not many people are doing it, then you have a good chance of winning. Hopefully there will be more out this year.”

Regardless of whether you fish from the bank, a boat or a kayak, daily derby tickets are $20, or you can buy the $100 full derby ticket, good for all nine days.

TAKE SHORE LEAVE OR SET SAIL?

Anglers fishing from shore might not have the same advantages as those fishing from boats, but it’s a great and economical way to target silvers and have a chance at one of many cash awards and prizes.

“It’s such a good vibe, and a lot of people who were walking around the harbor would say, ‘What’s this derby about?’ And we told them about the prizes and how you can do it from shore,” said Marsh. “They’d go out and start fishing the day of. So it’s pretty fun. Some people do prefer fishing from shore to a boat.”

Still, fishing from a boat remains the best chance to get in on some of the biggest coho weighed in. Besides the private boats, for the second consecutive year charter boats will have their own contests – not including the many side pot bets that get made – with it a little bit easier to enter this time around.

“Last year we were playing around with the charter competition idea. And we kind of simplified this year to where everybody registers as an individual and not just the charter,” Marsh said. “You give the charter company name that you fish with, and the charter company can also win prizes. It’s just a little extra something. And it’s a little lower barrier for charter companies to register each of their clients.”

PRIZES GALORE

Like in the past, the heaviest silver weighed in during the nine-day Seward Silver Salmon Derby wins the $10,000 grand prize. (Last year’s winner, Tracy Squires, weighed in a 15.26-pounder, part of 14,206 pounds of coho that were recorded by over 1,200 registered anglers.

The overall weight was nearly three times greater than 2024’s total haul.) But there are also plenty of other opportunities to win cash awards or prizes, highlighted this year by a partnership with outdoor gear brand Frogg Toggs (froggtoggs.com).

“Frogg Togg gear will be awarded to the top three derby winners, along with several other smaller Frogg Togg prizes for daily winners,” Marsh said.

Bass Pro Shops gift cards will also be distributed throughout the duration of the derby. And continuing a fun tradition, in this 71st year of the event, the 71st-place finisher will win a cruise from Royal Caribbean. Also returning is the opportunity to catch some tagged fish, which will include a blind draw that could win a lucky angler up to $20,000.

“Nobody caught a tagged fish last year, but people definitely have caught them before,” Marsh said.

Shoreside Petroleum is also a sponsor this year and is helping to provide fuel for boats out of the harbor in Seward.

A COMMUNITY EVENT TO BE PROUD OF

Seward is proud of its longtime association with this event. “It is so satisfying and makes us so happy to put on this event and see both the community and tourists enjoy something,” said Marsh, who recently took on a big role with the derby. “It has a bit of everything; the excitement of winning prizes for heaviest fish; you have giving back for fish restoration (see sidebar). It’s kind of a cool end-of-the-summer celebration.”

Marsh mentioned the excitement of the daily weigh-ins of derby fish. Last year’s winner Squires caught her grand prize silver on the second day of competition, so you never know when that big-money coho will hit the scales.

“It’s really exciting, especially when somebody thinks they might have a winner, or when a couple people have big fish and they want to see who has the bigger one. It’s really fun to see everybody weigh their fish,” she said.

“We change the daily leaderboard. That’s my favorite part of the day.” ASJ

Editor’s note: For more info on the Seward Silver Salmon Derby, check out its website, seward.com/salmon-derby.

Sidebar: GIVING BACK TO THE FISHERY VIA CAUGHT SEWARD DERBY SILVERS

As has been the tradition for Seward’s late-season silver salmon contest, the Seward Chamber of Commerce has made it a point to replenish the waters of Resurrection Bay with more coho through proceeds from the derby.

“Whether people buy back their fish or donate them, all of that goes to fish restoration,” said Liz Marsh, the chamber’s communications and community coordinator.

Seward Silver Salmon Derby participants who catch and weigh in a coho can buy back their fish for $5, money that goes directly into a fund to get more young salmon into these waters. They can also donate the fish to one of the derby’s partners, Silver Bay Seafoods, which also helps keep silver runs healthy in the Seward area, including getting involved with local sportfishing boat fleets and their clients on trips from the port.

“We’re really focusing on that, and we’ve also partnered with the Seward Charter Boat Association,” Marsh added. “And we have a new salmon partnership fund with them, and it’s crowdfunding for people in the community and visitors who go out on boats.”

That means individuals can, as Marsh put it, “Basically sponsor a fish – a baby salmon – to be put back into the bay to replenish the waters. And it’s only like $2 or $3 per salmon. The idea is for people who go out and fish, maybe if they caught five fish, they can donate to cover the fish that they took out. We’re really hoping to spread the word on that. It’s special because it’s not only a fun event for people to fish and win stuff, but it’s also an opportunity to give back for fish restoration.” CC