2017 SNC Salmon Derby

The 2017 SNC Salmon Derby was one for the books with the closest finish in SNC Derby history! The derby is always an enjoyable way to start off the season, reuniting old friends and taking part in a little friendly competition. Read about the derby results from Tournament Master Randy Lee below.Day OneThe brisk winds and choppy sea conditions that persisted during the first week of the season all but disappeared when we arrived on Sunday. Blue skies, warm sunshine and smooth waters made for near-perfect sea conditions and The Clubhouse fleet was finally free to explore all of the popular fishing spots around Langara Island.Ninety percent of those in attendance participated in last year’s event and this was a great opportunity for our derby contestants to reacquaint themselves with old friends as well as our staff and crew. Sunday was also a pre-derby session for personal test fishing.Monday morning started off with a more traditional Haida Gwaii look to the weather. Light overcast and filtered sunlight with a bit of mist obscuring visibility. The seas remained dead calm. Boats ventured out in all directions but the east side of Langara Island produced most of the action for the day. Most of the Chinook caught are in the teens but we did record a handful of fish in the 20+ range. Defending champion Anthony Delatolla and Amos Kazzaz share the Day One lead with 25 pounders. The smooth water conditions enabled the big Whalers to head west from Lacy Island in search of bigger halibut and a number of guests returned to the lodge with a 40 to 50 pounders.

Calm waters for these SNC Salmon Derby anglers.Day TwoAnother glorious day in Haida Gwaii for our derby contestants with clear skies and smooth seas. The morning fishing session proved to be a bit of a challenge as the fish that have been in the area for the past few days had continued their journey south overnight and out of our immediate area. Most of action was recorded during the late afternoon period and Bob Matlock claimed the best fish of the day with his 25 pounder.

SNC Derby guests with a fish on the line.Day Three – The FinalLast year, Anthony Delatolla’s 32 pounder recorded on Tuesday, grabbed the overnight lead going into the final day of the derby and this year he was in contention once again. At the opening gun, the top three fish are in a virtual tie and the winner could ultimately be determined by simple arithmetic. For two of the last three years, the derby winner was caught on the final afternoon of competition. Would Wednesday bring another finish with heart pumping, last minute heroics? The closing day of the derby would bring some additional challenges. The near-perfect weather we enjoyed since our Sunday arrival turned nasty with cooler temperatures, brisk winds and choppy sea conditions. When the closing bell sounded at 7:00pm, we had four fish that all weighed in on the dock scale at 25 pounds. As per the derby rules, the competition would be judged using the mathematical formula for estimating the weight of a salmon (length X girth X girth / 800) and the top three entries were:Dave Shigaki - Third place - $200 gift certificatesAmos Kazzaz - Second place – Islander ReelBob Matlock - First place - return trip for two

Third place winner, Dave Shigaki.

Accepting on second place winner Amos Kazzaz's behalf, Kevin Hewlett.

SNC Derby Winner, Bob Matlock.*Amos unfortunately had to leave a day early so was unable to pose for a picture on awards night.Congratulations to Bob, Amos and Dave! On behalf of Terry Cowan and all of his wonderful team at The Clubhouse, we thank all of our guests who participated in this wonderful, friendly competition and we look forward to seeing you back in 2018.Tight Lines,Randy LeeTournament MasterDON’T MISS OUT ON NEXT YEAR: Dates for the 2018 SNC Salmon Derby are May 27 to 31. To secure your spots be sure to call us TODAY at 1-888-432-6666 or email us at info@westcoastfishingclub.com