80th Golden North Salmon Derby off to unceremonial start as fishers head straight to sea

Three-day event again bypassing ticket validations, allowing participants to skip weigh-in stations until they have fish to turn in

The 80th Golden North Salmon Derby gets off to a quiet start Friday morning at the Douglas Harbor weigh-in station. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Ellie Ruel and Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

The 80th annual Golden North Salmon Derby launched without any formal fanfare on Friday morning — indeed, there was less commotion than traditionally seen during most past years, according to officials at the Douglas Harbor weigh-in station.

"Usually we'd have 100 people lined up, and then at 7:30 we're validating the people running to their boats and racing off through the channel," Jonathan Gunstrom, the station’s dock chair, said about 10 minutes after the derby’s official start time. But validation of derby tickets purchased by participants was halted as of last year so "now it just kind of starts with a whimper" at the stations.

Instead, fishers are able to head straight for the seas, with about 800 to 1,000 people participating annually in the three-day event in recent years, according to Ryan Beason, chair of the derby that’s sponsored by Territorial Sportsmen Inc.

But there are commemorative buttons and other items marking the derby’s 80th year available for people visiting the stations.

Commemorative buttons, flyers and other items for the 80th Golden North Salmon Derby are seen at Statter Harbor on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Independent)

Gunstrom, who has been a derby official for 16 years, and three other officials were staffing the Douglas station when it opened. He said catch turned in at the station has declined since he started — in part because participants seem to be doing more fishing to the north where the other two weigh-in stations are located.

"I think last year we filled three bins" with salmon, he said. "The year I started we filled 14."

The derby stations are open until 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 6 p.m. Sunday, and Gunstrom said he frequently works that entire time each year. But this year that could change if a glacial outburst flood occurs since he lives on a street in the designated evacuation zone.

"If it happens in the next three days all of a sudden I will be leaving this in capable hands," he said.

Later that evening, the Auke Nu weigh station had logged 14 totes of fish.

“It’s been pretty steady, a couple of big ones,” said dock chair Alysha Reeves as she piled ice on the afternoon’s catches.

Many of the continuous stream of anglers hoping to weigh in their fish before the close of the first day were optimistic about the fishing and odds.

Pat Dryer brought in a 26.2-pound king estimated to be at the front of the leaderboard — however, it wasn’t yet posted at the derby’s live results online.

“Fishing’s been great, weather’s been great,” Dryer said.

His wife, Jackie Ebert, is in third place with a 17.7-pound king, and their 9-year-old son Oliver follows in second place with a 19.5-pound king, he said.

“This is the best season we’ve had,” Ebert said. “We target king salmon. We had some scholarship fish, but this is probably the best day we’ve ever had.”

Maike Underruga-Cole and Michael Cole brought in 10 scholarship fish on their second weigh-in of the day, but said their favorite part of the derby was spending time together.

“We love to have family time on the boat,” Underruga-Cole said. “We’ll get up early tomorrow and do it again.”

A similar sentiment brings Alex Parkhill to visit his brother Zac for the derby every year. This year is the farthest he’s travelled to get here, since he’s living in Bogota, Colombia.

“It's an incredible environment to be in,” Alex Parkhill said. “And it's the only time of the year I get to come out and visit my brother and we get to do these incredible fishing adventures together.”

They said they caught 15 coho and seven kings total, including a 13.6-pound and 10.6-pound coho.

“We both have some work to do, if we want to continue to be on the leaderboard,” Alex Parkhill said.  “But it's always fun to wake up the second morning, and check and see where you're at, and track who's trying to upgrade.”

Parkhill said he feels good about his odds for this weekend, but the two still have fun even if they’re unsuccessful.

“It’s a blast no matter what,” Alex Parkhill said. “Even if we don't catch the heat, we always have an adventure out there.”

80th Golden North Salmon Derby essentials

When: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Weigh stations: Amalga Harbor, Douglas Harbor, Auke Nu Cove; open Friday and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tickets: $50 adults (ages 13 and up); $45 veterans; $10 youths (ages 6 - 12)

Official website: https://www.goldennorthsalmonderby.com/

• Contact Ellie Ruel at ellie.ruel@juneauindependent.com. Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.