Port Alberni's Labour Day salmon derby has come to an end.
Sean Falkenberg of Surrey hooked the winning fish of the weekend, as well as the $15,000 top prize, for his 28.8-pounder caught near the Bamfield Wall with an anchovy on Saturday.
"We thought it was quite a small fish at first," Falkenberg said. "It took us about half an hour to get it in, and when we finally got it we couldn't believe how big it was."
Although Falkenberg lives in Surrey, his family is from Port Alberni and he has been taking part in the derby since he was young. He's been fishing with the same crew for about 16 years, and this is the biggest fish they've ever caught.
Because he hooked the fish on the first day of the derby, Falkenberg had to wait until Monday at 3 p.m. when the derby officially closed to find out if his fish was the winner.
"The last 10 minutes here were a little bit stressful," he laughed. "There were a lot of fish coming up the ramp."
Falkenberg says he and his fishing partners will be splitting up the winnings.
"Maybe have a nice dinner somewhere," he added.
This year was the first full Port Alberni Salmon Festival since the event was interrupted in 2020 by COVID-19 restrictions. Carolyn Jasken of the Alberni Valley Tyee Club said it was a success, despite the hot weather all weekend.
"The crowds were great, the weather was hot and the fish were even hotter," she joked. "They were coming in fast and furious from all ends, and it's been a great derby."
There were a few criticisms of the festival's location at Tyee Landing, mostly related to shade and accessibility. But Jasken hinted that there will be "more infrastructure coming" as the festival grows.
"Back in 2010, when we spearheaded the Ultimate Fishing Town [contest], we had a vision," explained Jasken. That vision was limited by operation of the Somass Sawmill next to Tyee Landing, she said. Now that the sawmill has been closed, and the city has purchased the land, Jasken is hopeful that the Salmon Festival will be able to grow and expand in future years.
"The community really needs these kinds of events," said Jasken.
Full list of winners:
Saturday:
1. Sean Falkenberg (Surrey) - 28 pounds, eight ounces
2. Darwyn Mallat - 26 pounds, 10 ounces
3. Craig Martin (Nanaimo) - 24 pounds
Sunday:
1. Andrew McVie - 26 pounds, 10 ounces
2. Craig Martin (Nanaimo) - 25 pounds, 10 ounces
3. Holden Fraser - 24 pounds, 14 ounces
Monday:
1. Dwight Dockendorf (Port Alberni) - 21 pounds, one ounce
2. John Crawford (Nanoose) - 20 pounds, 12 ounces
3. Bruce Leyland (Port Alberni) - 19 pounds, 14 ounces
Hidden draw winners can be found on the Alberni Valley Tyee Club's Facebook page. Prizes can be picked up at Gone Fishin'.
Pearl John from Ahousaht won the Rotary Club of Port Alberni's 50/50 draw, winning a total of $12,232.50.
