The 73rd annual Golden North Salmon Derby in Juneau has been rescheduled from Aug. 16-18 until Aug. 23-25 due to weather expected to blow through on Friday and Saturday. It’s the first time the event has been rescheduled in 70 years.
Territorial Sportsmen, the sponsor, said it was concerned about the safety of derby anglers. A high-wind advisory is still in effect for parts of the upper Lynn Canal, where gusts could reach 60 mph.
The derby awards prizes for the largest chinook or coho salmon over the three-day event. Fishers head for waters within the Point Bridget, Greely Point, Twin Point and Point Couverton areas.
Organizers usually release 12 specially tagged salmon onto the derby grounds, and one is chosen as the special $100,000 prize fish.
The proceeds have been used to fund scholarships for local students. Since 1953 the Territorial Sportsmen Scholarship Foundation has awarded 305 scholarships totaling over $1.7 million in scholarships.