Here we are, mid-summer. And for many of us sportsmen, waiting patiently for the fall salmon runs to begin. With very limited Chinook opportunities in Western Washington, most of us are looking forward to our coveted coho fishery. I know that I am organizing my gear, tying leaders, prepping bait, and doing anything that I can to pass the time. I get in a day or two of kokanee or trout fishing here and there, but it is just not the same. Coho are hard-fighting fish and arguably among the best-tasting salmon, either on the BBQ or in the smoker. The 2026 forecasted return of coho salmon to the Puget Sound projects a strong, healthy return overall, ranking as one of the best seasons in recent memory for total forecasted abundance. This means that we should be both optimistic and excited for what is to come.
Along with the returning salmon come numerous derbies, all up and down the West Coast. Every September, there is a salmon derby unlike any other on the West Coast: The Everett Coho Derby, taking place in September when the Coho are stacking up in the Puget Sound on their way to their natal rivers and spawning grounds. This great event celebrated its 32nd year in 2025 and has become the largest fishing derby on the West Coast, with around 2000 adults and 300 kids registering annually. That’s a lot of sportsmen (and women) and anglers on the water!
I have been fortunate to be a volunteer for the past five years. For me, it’s easy. I just show up at the Edmonds Marina and meet and greet people as they bring their catch in for weighing. We laugh and talk to all the smiling kids, proud to weigh in their fish and compete for prizes. Outside of all the fun that we have over the two days of the derby, many others spend the year planning the event, and it is a lot of hard work.
The Everett Coho Derby is sponsored by the Everett Steelhead and Salmon Club/Everett Chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers and the Snohomish Sportsmen’s Club. These two groups work together to plan the event. The money made in this derby goes to support the many fish enhancement projects of the clubs.
Coho can be caught in any of the open marine areas or the open rivers in Snohomish and Skagit Counties. First, second, and third prizes fetch $10K, $5K, and $2.5K, respectively. Gary Hanson from Puyallup won the 2025 Everett Coho Derby with a 12.62 lb coho salmon. The annual derby concluded on September 21, 2025, with Betty Wood (Snohomish) taking second place with a 12.11 lb fish, and David Taylor (Tulalip) in third place with an 11.57 lb fish. The event saw a highly competitive weekend for the top spots.
A little history about the derby: In 1993, the local recreational fishing industry was in a quandary. To protect many of the threatened runs of coho salmon, the State of Washington declared much of the saltwater off limits to salmon fishing, as well as closing most of the local rivers. The only area available was the Snohomish River system and a small “Bubble” right outside the mouth of the Snohomish River called the Tulalip Bubble. Interest in salmon fishing was waning, and the sporting goods stores were worried about their livelihoods - the sale of fishing gear.
One of the local store managers, Fabian Loomas from Jerry’s Surplus in Everett, approached Jim Brauch of the Everett Steelhead and Salmon Club and Mark Spada of the Snohomish Sportsmen’s Club with a proposal. If a salmon derby was created, targeting the small area that was open, Fabian would try to solicit prizes from the various distributors. In addition, if not enough tickets were sold to cover the prize money, Fabian would guarantee that the prize money would be paid. This was a win-win scenario for the two clubs, and the decision was made quickly to create and organize the derby!
That first year, the derby was called the Snohomish River Coho Derby, and it made about $400-$500 per club. Not a lot by today’s standards, but in those days, most of the club’s income came from small raffles and coffee rest-stop donations. Four hundred dollars was significant for both clubs, and they were overjoyed at the additional revenue. Those guiding the effort muddled along for the next few years, happy to have a derby and happy to make a little money from it. A Humpy Derby was attempted one year, and two things were discovered: humpy (pink salmon) anglers don’t buy derby tickets, and most humpies entered in the derby weighed about the same (10th through about 50th differed by less than 2 oz). In about the year 2000, Mac McReynolds - a representative from Olympic Boats, a local retail boat sales operation - approached the group to see if they could help sponsor the derby. McReynolds arranged for a boat, motor, and trailer to be awarded as the grand prize, at no cost to the derby. Ticket sales surged that year, furnishing money for the many enhancement projects carried out by both clubs. Up until a couple of years ago, the boat, motor, and trailer package was a mainstay of the raffle portion of the derby and helped it to continue to grow to what it is today. Other past prizes have included trips to fish in Alaska and cash as alternatives to the raffle.
From these humble beginnings, the derby, now called the Everett Coho Derby, has become the largest derby on the West Coast of North America based upon the number of participants. Ticket sales have soared from 900 tickets sold in 2001 to 2527 sold in 2004, a year of inclement weather, along with over 300 free youth tickets. Over 2800 participants in total. The derby now averages 2000 adult paid tickets, and 270 free kids (12 and under) tickets each year. The prize money has also improved with cash for the five largest fish, from $500 for 5th place up to $10,000 for 1st place, along with many added cash prize categories. This derby has surely become a destination event on the West Coast.
The money made each year in the Everett Coho Derby goes towards the support of the many fish enhancement and propagation projects of the clubs - including stocking of the local lakes with trout, a salmon hatchery raising 60,000 coho smolt each year for release in the Skykomish River (Eagle Creek Hatchery), carcass planting in the upper Pilchuck River and Snohomish System, many different youth activities including trout clinics/fishing events, high school/college scholarships, sending kids to Youth Conservation Camp, as well as many other activities too numerous to mention. The money goes to good causes, and anglers have a chance to win prizes at the same time. What could be better?
These events take a ton of work to organize and coordinate, but the proceeds help more than most people realize. Also, many of the people who donate their time and energy to events like this are getting older, so there is a call for new blood. It is time for the next younger generation to get involved and start to take over so that we can keep these events going.
So, what does it take to get involved? There is nothing to it. Just volunteer, and they will be grateful for your help. If you are not the volunteering type, that is okay. Pay your entry fee and come try to win some prizes next year while filling your freezer with chrome bright coho salmon.
To learn more, you can visit https://everettcohoderby.com/. The 2026 derby will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 26-27. Tickets will go on sale on July 1st. We hope to see you there.
