
(Andy Holman with his winning fish caught during last year’s derby)
There are still 60 spots left for the Roche Harbor Salmon Classic Invitational held Feb. 5-7 on San Juan Island.
This derby is limited to 100 boats with a maximum of four anglers per boat. Cost is $810.75, and includes tax, all dinners for registered anglers and moorage. First place is $10,000, second place is $5,000, and third place is $3,000.
There will be a bonus prize of $30,000 awarded if the winning fish weighs 30 pounds or more.
In all 100 derby boats with 344 anglers last year caught 99 hatchery chinook on the first day of the derby, and then another 73 on the second day.
The first place prize of $10,000 went to Andy Holman of Friday Harbor who caught a 20.2 pound chinook on Friday.
Second went to Pat Federspiel of Bellevue with a 16.2 pound chinook and took home $5,000; third was Frank Finch of Friday Harbor with a 15.12 that earned him $3,000; fourth was Brent Melsin of Anacortes with a 15.8 and received $2,000; and fifth went to Donald Harford who traveled all the way from Coeur d’Alene to take home $1,000 with a 15.7 fish.
The total boat weight leader was Craig Hougen; Tim Melton; and Brian James of Bellingham wth 10 fish that weighed 78.8 pounds and earned them $2,000.
For more details, call Debbie Sandwith at 360-378-5562 or email market@rocheharbor.com.