Golden North Salmon Derby
Encyclopedia
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
competition held in Juneau, Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
in August. The object of the event is to catch the largest Chinook
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
or Coho
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
salmon over a period of three days; pink
Pink salmon
Pink salmon or humpback salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. It is the smallest and most abundant of the Pacific salmon.- Appearance :...
and chum
Chum salmon
The chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. It is a Pacific salmon, and may also be known as dog salmon or Keta salmon, and is often marketed under the name Silverbrite salmon...
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
Shelter Island (Alaska)
Shelter Island is an island in the Alexander Archipelago, southeast of Lincoln Island and northwest of Juneau, Alaska, U.S.A.. It trends northwest between Favorite and Saginaw Channels. It was named in 1869 by Commander R. W. Meade, USN...
, Amalga Harbor, Auke Bay, or Douglas Island
Douglas Island
Douglas Island is a tidal island in the U.S. state of Alaska, just west of downtown Juneau and east of Admiralty Island. It is separated from mainland Juneau by the Gastineau Channel. The Juneau-Douglas Bridge, connecting the island with Juneau, provides a two lane road to and from the island and...
. 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.
History
- See also List of Golden North Salmon Derby winners.
The derby has evolved for over 50 years. It was begun on August 31, 1947, and earned its official name in 1948. For many years, live coverage of the derby has been broadcast on local radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s KINY
KINY
KINY is a Full Service formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Juneau, Alaska, serving Alaska Panhandle. KINY is owned and operated by Alaska Broadcast Communications.-History:...
and KSUP
KSUP
KSUP is a commercial music radio station in Juneau, Alaska, broadcasting on 106.3 FM. The station changed from a rock format in the spring of 2007. The station is branded as MIX 106....
. There was no broadcast from 1980 to 1982, due to a dispute with the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
.