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Large chrome Coho salmon suspended from a mechanical hanging scale at a wooden harbor weigh pavilion

71th Annual Seward Silver Salmon Derby (2026)

The Seward Silver Salmon Derby is one of the oldest and largest fishing events in Alaska, dating back to 1956. Thousands of anglers head to Resurrection Bay every August to compete for huge cash prizes and, perhaps more importantly, the glory of the 'Big Fish' title.

2026 Official Derby Quick-Reference SpecsLocate B Float Weigh Booth on GIS Map →
2026 Event Window – (9 Days)
Weigh-In Booth LocationsSeward Small Boat Harbor — B Float Head & J Dock (`1300 4th Ave`)
Ticket Deadlines (Same-Day)9:00 AM Online · 1:00 PM In-Person at Derby Booth (must buy before fishing)
Eligible Species & MinimumSilver (Coho) Salmon only · 3.00 lb minimum · Hooked in mouth (no snag marks)
Entry Cost & Fish Buy-Back$10/day or $50 full derby · Optional $5 buy-back to keep your weighed fish
Split-water view of silver Coho salmon swimming beneath cold emerald water with spruce cliffs above
August Coho Pushing Inside the Bay: Late-summer schools of wild Silver Salmon stage along kelp lines and glacial stream mouths.
Fleet of sportfishing boats idling out the stone breakwater channel of Seward Harbor at sunrise
Derby Week Breakwater Run: The morning fleet clears the Seward breakwater channel as sunrise hits the eastern peaks.
Close-up of a fresh wild silver salmon dorsal fin with a yellow plastic tag and water droplets
Tagged Derby & Research Coho: Numbered dorsal tags mark tournament prize fish and fishery management studies in Resurrection Bay.
Magenta Alaska fireweed blooming along a rocky shoreline trail overlooking Seward Small Boat Harbor
Late-August Fireweed Over the Basin: When fireweed blooms to its top petals along the waterfront path, Silver Salmon season is at its peak.

🗓️ 2026 Key Dates & Times

  • Derby Dates: August 8, 2026 – August 16, 2026
  • Derby Booth Hours:
    • Aug 8–15: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
    • Aug 16 (Final Day): 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Awards Ceremony: August 17, 2026 (typically 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM)

💰 Prize Highlights

  • Total Prize Pool: $250,000+
  • 1st Place Overall: $10,000 CASH + the weight of your fish in Kaladi Brothers Coffee
  • Tagged Fish: 10 silver salmon are tagged and released before the derby. Catching one can win you: $20,000, $10,000, $5,000 (randomly assigned values).
  • Local sponsor prizes (lodging, charters, and gear)
  • The 'Dorothy Urbach' Random Prize: A legacy prize draw in honor of the late derby legend.
  • Special Categories:
    • Heaviest from Shore: $100+
    • Heaviest from Kayak or Sailboat
    • Cumulative Weight (Seward vs. Non-Seward residents)
    • Smallest legal fish (closest to 3.00 lbs)

⚖️ Essential Rules

  1. Register BEFORE You Fish:
    • You must have your ticket in hand before your line hits the water.
    • Online Deadline: 9:00 AM daily.
    • In-Person Deadline: 1:00 PM daily at the Derby Booth.
  2. Minimum Weight:
    • Only Silver (Coho) salmon weighing 3 lbs or more are eligible.
  3. The 'Buy Back' Program:
    • All fish weighed in become property of the Derby to fund salmon restoration.
    • You can 'buy back' your own fish for $5 at the weigh-in station to keep it for dinner.
  4. No Snag Marks:
    • While snagging is legal in the bay, fish with snag marks are not eligible for prizes.
    • They must be hooked in the mouth.
  5. Location:
    • You can fish anywhere, but all voyages must start and end in Resurrection Bay.

🎟️ Registration & Costs

  • Daily Pass: $10 per day
  • Full Derby Pass: $50 (covers all 9 days)
  • Side Pots: $10 to $250 for side pots
Pro Tip: Resurrection Bay can get crowded. The early-season fish usually hang around Pony Cove and Eldorado Narrows, moving closer to the Seward beaches and Caines Head by the final days of the derby.
Would you like a Derby Prep Checklist with the specific gear and local bait shops you'll need for a winning weekend?
(This checklist can be dynamically updated for each year!)