Outdoors/Adventure

Slam’n Salm’n fishing derby opens Friday in Anchorage's Ship Creek

One of the country's premier urban salmon fishing derbies kicks off at dawn Friday when the Slam'n Salm'n Derby begins in Ship Creek.

Fishing — and weigh-ins for lucky anglers — continues until June 18.

Defending champion Terrance Shanigan caught a 38.5-pound king last year, when the top 19 finishers all landed kings weighing at least 25 pounds.

Winning Ship Creek kings have weighed as little as 28 pounds and more than 50 pounds.

Fishing has been pretty good," noted Dustin Slinker, owner of The Bait Shack on Ship Creek, who said the first king was landed May 15. "More and more fish with each tide. We're over 100 fish landed so far."

The kings of Ship Creek are all hatchery-grown fish. Over the last five years an average of 348,107 king smolt have been released annually into the urban stream, all of them from the state's William Jack Hernandez Hatchery.

Only the Mat-Su's Eklutna Tailrace sees more hatchery kings released.

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Anglers line Ship Creek 6 a.m.-11 p.m., with prizes going to anglers who pull in the 10 heaviest fish. Other prizes will be handed out to the active-duty military angler with the biggest king, a daily mystery-weight fish, the smallest jack king and for tagged salmon.

Free derby tickets are available, but a $20 donation to the sponsoring Downtown Soup Kitchen is suggested. Derby headquarters are in Alaska Railroad Plaza near Ship Creek and across from the Ulu Factory.

Anglers must be at least 6 years old, and every fisherman over 18 must have an Alaska fishing license and king salmon stamp.

Fishing is legal from the mouth of Ship Creek to a point 100 feet downstream of the Chugach Power Plant dam.

On June 17, the day before the tournament concludes, there will be a special youth fishery on Ship Creek, with a portion of the creek reserved for youngsters less than 16 years old. Rods and reels will be available from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and The Bait Shack. Free bait and advice will be available, too.

Hilltop hosting top pros for $10,000 disc golf tourney

A $10,000 pro purse will be awarded this year at the seventh annual King of the Hill Disc Golf Tournament beginning June 30 at Hilltop Ski Area.

The men's and women's winners of the open pro divisions will earn a $500 bonus, too.

Tournament director Richard Cramer said 86 players have signed up, about half of them from the Lower 48. Among them are 2012 Professional Disc Golf Association world champion Sarah Hokom of Freedom, California, and fellow Californian, 2009 world champion Avery Jenkins, who worked as a commentator for last year's inaugural Disc Golf World Tour. Both will appear at a meet and greet 5-6:30 p.m. June 28 at Play It Again Sports in Spenard.

"Players actually come to Alaska to play disc golf," Cramer said.

Competitors must be Professional Disc Golf Association members, with divisions running from the junior boys and girls to masters.

Last year, Brian Schweberger won the tournament's open division, scoring 190 points, earning $1,575.

The tournament concludes July 2.

Young anglers take over Ninilchik

Clear out, old folks. Only anglers ages 15 or younger will be able to fish the Ninilchik River on Wednesday (June 7).

Kids-only fishing runs 6 a.m.-10 p.m., and staffers from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game will be on hand to help youngsters. They'll be specifically talking about tying knots, how to handle and release fish and what gear to use.

The youth-only area extends from the Ninilchik mouth upstream to Fish and Game markers near the Sterling Highway bridge.

Check with state biologist Carol Kerkvliet at 235-8181 for details.

Finally, some 100-pound halibut

The three-pronged battle to land the largest Southcentral flatfish has tipped toward Homer, where Darren Benedetti of Fairbanks has grabbed the top spot in the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby with a 104.4-pounder.

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Benedetti was fishing with Homer Ocean Charters.

In Seward, Georgia angler Joel Sigmon reeled in a 101.2-pound flatfish Sunday to take the lead in the month-long Seward Halibut Derby.

And in Valdez, Fairbanks angler Michelle Steward leads the way in that town's tournament with a 95-pound halibut caught aboard the Valdez Pearl.

Mike Campbell

Mike Campbell was a longtime editor for Alaska Dispatch News, and before that, the Anchorage Daily News.

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