Vashon Island Hosts Third Annual Northwest Salmon Derby

A wise man once said: "There’s a fine line between fishing and just standing insensibly on the shore."
 
More recently, an even wiser man said: "Why not fish from the shore or launch a boat and participate in the 2013 Vashon Island Picnic & Pink Salmon Derby, Saturday, August 24, at Dockton Park, when there is CASH $$$ to be won?
 
(We want to encourage shore fishermen to enter the derby too!)
 
Why, indeed?
 
The organizers of the Vashon Derby are proud to be one of the 15 derbies in the Northwest Salmon Derby Series. Lead organizer, Islander Gene Kuhns, has worked hard each of the past three years to bring the Derby (benefiting Vashon’s IFCH (Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness)) to the waters of Outer Quartermaster and beyond.
 
Weigh-in begins that Saturday at 10am and continues until 12 noon – precisely (anglers: don’t be a second too late!)
 
From noon to 2 pm, following the weigh-in, there will be a free community potluck picnic and barbeque grilling (just follow your nose and all the happy grins to the area just beyond Dockton Park playground). All are invited to come, angler or no, and don’t forget to bring a favorite item to grill and one of grandma’s dishes to pass.
 
Also don’t forget about the prizes. This year they’re bigger and better:
 
Adults (17 yrs +): 1st Place, $1,500*; 2nd Place, $750*; 3rd Place, $250*. (*based on 200 entrants)
Youth (12-16 years): first place is $125.
Children (2-11 years): first place is $62.50.
For Youth and Children, there will be cash prizes awarded for 1st – 10th place.
 
In the wake of last year’s Derby, Gene Kuhns was ecstatic about prying 67 fishermen away from the region’s larger and better known derbies and was happy to see 12 hatchery-raised beauties landed and weighed. Twelve fish were registered in 2012 with the largest being 12 lb 13 oz. landed by Islander Dan Rice. Dan duly received a check for $480.
 
Last year’s Dockton Derby also benefited the Interfaith Council with a donation check in the amount of $500.
 
The NW Salmon Derby Series grand prize last year was a River Hawk boat that went to Lon Hayne of Bellevue. Lon won the boat by participating in the 2012 Edmonds Coho Derby. The 21-foot River Hawk boat was rigged and outfitted at Cabela’s and placed on display at the Seattle Boat Show this past January.
 
This year’s grand prize is a fully-loaded 21’ River Hawk boat powered by a Merc 4-stroke 150HP engine, the total boat package valued at $55,000!
 
The NW Salmon Derby Series also has a Mercury Marine Challenge. Adult 1st Prize will be $3,000; 2nd Place, $2,000; and 3rd Place, $1,000. (If your primary power is a Mercury Marine Engine 2008 or newer)
 
Tickets are $25 (adult), $10 (youth), and $5 (child) and can be purchased by going to www.brownpapertickets.com (search: Vashon Island Pink Salmon Derby).
For rules and information, please go to www.vashonifch.com
Additional details on the grand prize & Mercury Challenge can be had at www.northwestsalmonderbyseries.com.