A 28-pound, 3-ounce, Chinook salmon landed fisherman Brian Wilson $5,000 cash for first place in the 2010 Northwest Salmon Derby on July 11.
The 24-year-old fanned his stack of hundred dollar bills in front of a large crowd at Squalicum Harbor during an awards ceremony Sunday.
More than 300 people participated in the weekend-long free-for-all to catch the largest salmon.
The last stragglers came in quietly Sunday afternoon, walking past the 28-pounder Wilson caught four hours earlier.
Wilson is a three-time champion. He won the derby in 1996 and 1997, for $1,000 and $1,500, respectively.
He said other fishermen use the same techniques but he does not know why he keeps winning the derby.
“Fishing is in my blood,” Wilson said. “I’ve been fishing the San Juan [Islands] since I was 2 years old. My dad’s dad taught him to fish, and he taught me to fish.”
Derby Chairperson Brett Engholm said Wilson picked a good spot to fish because it was the same area that last year’s 39-pound winner was caught.
The contest was close: second- and third-place winners Eric Martin and Tony Pellecchia both missed first place by less than a pound, weighing in at 27 pounds, 8 ounces and 27 pounds, 4 ounces, respectively.
Children had their own derby which was the same time and length as the adult’s. Several came away as winners of non-cash prizes such as a Nintendo Wii and a mountain bike.
The proceeds of the derby will go toward local salmon projects. Last year the derby, which is put on by the Puget Sound Anglers, helped sponsor a hatchery program at Lynden Christian High School and a fishery program at Bellingham Technical College.
Fred Kaiser, a volunteer who has helped organize the derby for 10 years, said it is held to get people involved and out in the water fishing.
He said more children have been getting involved the last couple years which is a main reason for why they have the derby.
After the ceremony, Wilson said he did not know how he would spend his money, but he feels he could win it again.
“I’ll be back next year,” he said.