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Peninsula fishing derby feeds into salmon system

Association seeks big fish hunters for second annual event in waters off the Saanich Peninsula
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Lifelong fisherman Don McIvor hopes to snag the big one and take home the biggest fish at the secondnd annual Sidney Angler’s Salmon Derby April 28. The derby raises funds for enhancement projects in the capital region.

While dozens of salmon are tugged out of the waters, the real winners could very well be the salmon themselves.

Ironically, the 250 fisherman in the second annual Sidney Angler’s Salmon Derby battling to pull the biggest fish out of the ocean, actually help maintain local salmon stocks.

“The primary motivation for this is to return money to salmon enhancement,” said director of Sidney Anglers Dave Stephen. “There are a lot of salmon enhancement projects, a lot of groups that are really really underfunded. That was our idea, to pull together to fund some of these projects locally.”

The return of derby fishing after a three-year hiatus raised $4,500 in 2011, with proceeds donated to a number of salmon enhancement projects including the Goldstream Hatchery, Peninsula Streams, and the Colquitz Creek Project.

This year the $135 entry fee for two-day event includes a fisher’s meet and greet on April 27, and the derby and dinner on April 28. Organizers hope to raise $10,000, more than doubling last years haul with all proceeds again going back into salmon enhancement.

“If the derby can raise $10,000 and that is spent on salmon enhancement at the hatchery, you could be putting a million fish back into the water for the 50 fish that is going to be taken,” McIvor said. “That is the whole purpose of the derby, to enhance the stocks and spend money in enhancing habitat.”

Last year’s winner Brian Gibson of Sooke, took home the $5,000 grand prize for a 20-pound one-ounce salmon, one of 58 pulled out of the ocean in the first event.  Second place takes home $3,000 and third $2,000.

McIvor has been a fisherman “from the day I was old enough to walk up a hill.” At 74 years old, the Central Saanich resident believes he is one of the oldest derby fisherman in the area and doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon. To this day, the allure of the sport and the importance of the cause keeps him coming back year after year – fishing for another shot at the grand prize.

“You can spend 10 hours in very inclement weather. Only other fishermen understand why you are out there,” McIvor said. “But I know why I am there. If you have your gear in the water, you have a chance of catching that [big] fish.”