Bellingham man wins $10K in fishing classic, Hodges of FH tied for 2nd
Jason King of Bellingham held onto his lead in the 2012 Annual Salmon Classic Invitational at Roche Harbor and took home $10,000 cash for his 16.6 lb chinook.
A tie for second resulted $4,000 each for Brian Dennis of Lake Tapps and David Hodges of Friday Harbor. Jennifer Payne of Friday Harbor won the $2000 mystery fish prize.
King, a Roche Harbor Classic regular, hooked the winning fish on the east side of Waldron Island about 9:45 a.m. Friday. "I was just kind of happy to see it was clipped," he said of the hatchery chinook.
As the derby progressed Saturday the tension built for King and his fishing buddies -- Eric Pedersen and James Fowler of Bellingham and Josh Kujawa of Minneapolis. "It was kind of nerve-wracking today."
King fishes other derbies but strives to enter the Roche Harbor Classic as often as possible. He missed one when his daughter Sage, his first child, was born seven years ago. "It's kind of special to win this one," King said.
He commended derby director Debbie Sandwith and the many other volunteers. "I always like this one. They do a first-class job."
The winnings will be split with his crew. King plans to use some of his share on boat maintenance and birthday gifts for Sage. Before the derby started King told Sage he hoped to win the derby and the $10,000 prize. "She gave me a whole list of birthday gifts -- Barbies, soccer equipment..."
Ninety-three fish were turned during this year's derby -- 25 more than last year.
Sandwith said, 85 boats with 293 anglers launched to a cannon start on both fishing days with amazing gorgeous Northwest sunrises.
Results:
55 fish weighed in on Friday February 3, 2012
38 fish weighed in on Saturday February 4, 2012
$25,000 cash prizes awarded:
$10,000 1st Place Jason King Bellingham, WA 16.6
$4,000 2nd Place Brian Dennis Lake Tapps, WA 16.2
$4,000 2nd Place David Hodges Friday Harbor WA 16.2
$2,000 4th Place Dale Nelson Bellingham, WA 16.1
$1,000 5th Place Derek Floyd Camano Is. WA 14.2
$2,000 Mystery Fish Jennifer Payne Friday Harbor, WA 6.12
$2,000 Best Boat Total Weight 44.13 lbs
Derek & Julie Floyd, Camano Island and Scott & Shannon Bumstead, Lk Stevens
Christian Thomas Youngest Angler 4 1/2 yrs old Tacoma, WA Saturday Christian weighed in a 5.1 oz Salmon at close of the Derby.
Dusty Rowland, Clyde Hill, WA 2013 Boat Entry drawing winner, sponsored by Roche Harbor Resort
Follow the derby on Facebook. Photos below by Debbie Sandwith
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