Anchorage angler Mike Hanson grabbed the lead Friday in the Seward Silver Salmon Derby.
Hanson hauled in a 16.22-pound coho at Tonsina Point. Though nowhere near the derby record of 22.24 pounds, Hanson's fish was big enough to win two of the last four derbies.
His catch bumped Nick Hunter and his 15.42-pound catch into second place. Darlene Neighbors is in third place with a 14.97-pound fish.
If Hanson holds onto the lead through Sunday's noon finish, he'll win $10,000. Second place pays $5,000, third place pays $2,500, fourth place pays $1,000 and fifth place pays $750.
It's been a good derby for the Hanson family. Earlier in the 10-day competition, Otto Hanson, Mike's grandfather, caught a tagged fish worth two roundtrip tickets on Alaska Airlines.
Five tagged fish are still out there somewhere in Resurrection Bay. One of them is worth $50,000.
A daily derby ticket costs $10.