Catching salmon will be as good as gold.
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the 98 The Beach Chantry Chinook Fish Derby.
Dignitaries, politicians, and members of the media were invited for yesterday’s media event at the Port Elgin Harbour.
After a morning of fishing, the scene shifted to the Whitney Crawford Community Centre in Tiverton for a luncheon that afternoon.
Those in attendance at the luncheon included President of the Lake Huron Fishing Club Ray Wasler, Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith, Kincardine Mayor Larry Kraemer, Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield, Huron Bruce Provincial Liberal MPP Carol Mitchell, and Huron Bruce Federal Liberal MP Paul Steckle.
Derby Co-Chair Len O’Connor says they hold this special occasion for the sponsors because without them there wouldn’t be a fish derby.
He also says volunteers are important and without them putting the derby together every year they would never had a derby.
He says they start organizing the next fish derby as soon as the last one ends.
O’Connor says there are $125,000 in cash and prizes available to be won.
He says to mark the 25th year of the derby they will be giving away five $1,000 cash prizes to the five largest salmon caught during the derby.
Co-Chair Ron Plaskett says anglers from Ontario and even parts of Canada and the United States come up to the area for the fish derby.
He says the derby is becoming more popular and it is a real benefit to the tourism industry in this area.
The 98 The Beach Chantry Chinook Fish Derby goes from July 26th to August 9th.
To find a location to get tickets or for more information go to www.chantrychinook.com.
