$1,000

LARGEST HALIBUT

All season

$1,000

LARGEST KING SALMON

All season

$1,000

LARGEST COHO SALMON

All season

🏆 Hidden Weight Prizes 🏆

The 2026 Derby takes place during a select set of weekends, with surprise hidden weight prizes each weekend!

Stay tuned for weigh station information.

PURCHASE YOUR TICKET 

$35

for A chance to win cash prizes!

Available at the chamber office and participating member retailers

✈️  Every ticket = 1 entry to win 2 round-trip Alaska Airlines tickets anywhere in North America

2026 Fish Derby Rules:

The Derby Committee may, at their discretion, meet such emergencies as they arise, with additions to, or amendments of, these rules. The Derby Committee has the power to make decisions in the matters pertaining to the Derbies, including eligibility, time limits, weights, and questions relative to participation and conduct of the Derbies, and their decisions shall be final and conclusive on all issues.

Derby Tickets: Participants must present their derby ticket stub to weigh in a fish. Derby tickets are not transferable. Tickets must be purchased prior to fishing the derby. Tickets will be marked with date and time of purchase for verification at weigh-in. 

Non-Entrants: Non-entrants, regardless of age may not fish in the same boats with derby entrants. (They may come along for the enjoyment of the day, just not fish)

Weight: Fish entered must meet the aforementioned minimus. If, in the opinion of the judges, any attempt is made to artificially enhance the weight of a fish the contestant will be disqualified from this and all future Wrangell Fish Derbies. The use of live fish wells or tanks is prohibited. Entered fish must be caught and weighed in during the posted derby weekend dates.

Tackle: Fishing in the derbies must be done with sport fishing gear. All fish must be caught on rod and reel. Entrants must fish only one rod at a time. Any hand-lines, commercial long-line gear or commercial nets found on board the boat will disqualify that boat and all contestants on board.

The Catch: You must catch your own fish. The contestant must hook and play their own fish in a sportsmanlike manner, unaided by another person, except for receiving assistance in netting. If a participant is found to have dishonestly entered a fish they did not catch both parties may be disqualified.

Species: All fish entered in the derby must be of the species defined by the derby entry ticket. Any questionable entry shall be reviewed by the Derby Judges Committee or Derby Official within 48 hours of notification to determine eligibility or disqualification. Decisions as to the authenticity of the species by the Derby Official or Judge will be final and binding.

Conduct of Contestant: Any contestant interfering with another contestant by running over or crossing the line while the latter is catching a fish is subject to disqualification, including unsportsmanlike boating to disrupt the catching of a salmon. (Placing another contestant in a dangerous situation)

Prizes: No one contestant may win more than one of the top three season prizes for each species.

Salmon: The contestant who catches the heaviest salmon by round weight and presents that fish to the weigh-in station within the prescribed period, and who has complied with all derby rules as applicable, shall be judged the winner. 

Halibut: The contestant who catches the heaviest halibut by round weight and presents that fish to the weigh-in station within the prescribed period, and who has complied with all derby rules applicable, shall be judged the winner.

Hidden weights: Each weekend's hidden weights will be determined by random number generator prior to that weekend, and announced at the close of the weekend. Participants will not know the random winning weights until after all the weekend's fish have been weighed and entered. The fish weighed in with a weight closest to the selected hidden weight for each species will be that weekend's winner. Weight will be measured to the tenth of a pound. In the event of a tie, winning participants will split the prize evenly.

Boundaries: Coho derby fishing is open to all saltwater wherever Coho sport fishing is open. Halibut derby fishing is open wherever halibut sport fishing is open. King salmon derby fishing is open to all saltwater wherever King salmon sport fishing is open.

Misconduct & Reporting: What to do if you see a violation of the rules or see an issue arise? Witnesses to any violation of derby rules must write and sign a detailed complaint within 24 hours of alleged misconduct and submit to the Derby Committee for decision.

Taxes: Any taxes on cash or other prizes are the sole responsibility of the accepting individual winners. Certain prize winners will be asked to provide a tax identification number and will be subject to the withholding of income tax under IRS regulations. Winning contestants reserve the right to refuse any prizes of their choice. Reported dollar value will reflect the actual value of the prize received.

The Derby Committee assumes no responsibility for changes in schedule or prizes due to any circumstances beyond its control.

Wrangell Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to use any entrant's name and/or photo in any advertising and/or promotion of future derbies without compensation.

Derby ticket holders do not need to weigh in a fish to be eligible to win the Alaska Airlines ticket raffle.