GREAT GOING SALTY & CREW
A Nanaimo man has won the top prize in the 36th annual Port Alberni Salmon Festival.
Tomi Uusikartano won $10,000 and the George Berry Trophy for the largest fish of the weekend after reeling in a 41-pound salmon near Effingham Inlet Sunday afternoon.
“It was heavy,” said Uusikartano.
Uusikartano said he spent about 30 minutes battling the fish but didn’t notice the time pass because he was too busy talking.
On board his boat, said Uusikartano, were five people and a baby.
Uusikartano was just one of some 2,500 entrants – from as far away as the United Kingdom and Japan – to participate in the three-day salmon derby, centred at the Clutesi Haven Marina.
Dan Washington, president of the society in charge of the festival, said he was still awaiting a final count on the number of entrants because some registered in Bamfield and Green Cove.
Washington said Uusikartano was well below the festival’s record salmon, which was caught in 1982 and weighed 60.8 pounds.
Despite the rain – which had an impact on some festival vendors Sunday – Washington said the festival was a good derby, and contestants landed about 800 fish a day.
Meantime, Washington said volunteers served up about 5,000 pounds to salmon festival guests.
The winning fishermen and their salmon over the three-day festival were
Saturday:
Roger Bigwood, Quesnel, 35.2 pounds
Glen Pirart, Nanaimo, 35.1 pounds
Pat Edwards, Port Alberni, 35 pounds, winner of the Fred Duncan Trophy for the largest fish caught by a Port Alberni resident
Sunday:
Tomi Uusikartano, Nanaimo, 41 pounds, winner of the George Berry Trophy for the largest fish of the weekend
Cassie Judson, Ladysmith, 37 pounds
Slade Balance, Nanaimo, 35.4 pounds
Monday:
Bob Eberhart, Rocky Mountain House, 30.3 pounds
John Larsen, Port Alberni, 29.4 pounds
Dan Sprinkling, Qualicum, 29.4 pounds
Tom Vilac won the Gary Rooke Memorial Trophy for catching the largest hatchery fish of the weekend by landing a 22.85 pound salmon.
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