Join us at the 70th Annual Seward Silver Salmon Derby

August 9th through the 17th in Seward, Alaska. 

NEW: Professional Fishing Category

New this year is a professional fishing category. Charter companies may compete with each other to win prizes, fuel credits and bragging rights. Your clients can now easily join in on the silver salmon derby fun! Email any questions to director@seward.com or call 907.224.8051

Prizes: $500 and a trophy for the Captain. $500 for your client. Ultimate bragging rights for life. 

Instructions: 

• Register your Charter Company & charter boat at hbt.seward.com
  • Use your Charter Company Name & Boat Name:
    • Example: “ABC Charters - Alpha beta”
    • If fishing from multiple boats, please register a new profile for each boat.
• You will receive an email with a Promo Code to send to your clients and with instructions for them to register.
• The promo code will get your clients a derby ticket for each day they fish with you.
• Your clients MUST register before they fish!
  • Pro tip: Email your clients with plenty of advanced notice or visit the derby booth before you board or print the instructions with qr code to keep on your boat.
• Your clients must register as Individuals, and choose the Pro-Fishing Category as their Division. We will share instructions for you to send directly to clients. 
• Guests will get the day they fish with you free and are entered to win all derby prizes.
• Anglers are ELIGIBLE & encouraged to compete in side pots for more chances to win.
• Your anglers are only eligible to compete in the derby on the days they fish from your charter.

REGISTER HERE

Volunteer at the Silver Salmon Derby

We are always looking for volunteers at the Seward Silver Salmon Derby. Volunteers will receive a 2025 Salmon Derby volunteer shirt and complimentary food & snacks from local Seward businesses. We need help with sign-ups, weighing the fish and recording information.

Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities. 

70th Annual Seward Silver Salmon Derby

August 9–17, 2025 • Seward, Alaska

REGISTER NOW

What is the Silver Salmon Derby?

The Seward Silver Salmon Derby began in 1956 and is one of Alaska’s oldest and most celebrated fishing tournaments, held every August in the waters of Resurrection Bay. This week-long event draws anglers of all ages and experience levels to fish for silver salmon and compete for cash prizes, daily awards, specialty categories and the thrill of optional side bets that can lead to even bigger winnings. With daily weigh-ins at the Derby Booth in the Seward Harbor, participants can fish one day or all week for more chances to win. From trophy-sized silvers to mystery weights and tagged fish jackpots, it’s a high-stakes, high-reward tradition—and every fish weighed helps support the future of fishing in Seward’s waters.

The Seward Silver Salmon Derby also supports fish restoration efforts. Through the Buy Back Program, anglers may buy back the salmon they caught at the derby for $5 a salmon. All proceeds generated from these fish sales go to the Fish Restoration Fund and are used to support Resurrection Bay Fish Enhancement efforts and approved programs.

Just don’t forget—you have to be registered before you fish the derby or that prize-winning catch won’t count!

Click here to register!

Ways to Win Big - Full 2025 Prize List coming soon!

In the Seward Silver Salmon Derby, it’s not just the biggest fish that brings in big rewards. With multiple prize categories and daily opportunities to win, you don’t need to be a pro to land a payout. Here’s how you can take home cash, gear and bragging rights:

Major Prize Categories

• Derby Champion – The angler with the largest silver salmon by weight will claim the grand prize of $10,000, plus the weight of the winning salmon in pounds of Kaladi Brothers Coffee and earn a place in derby history.
   

• Heavy Hitters (2nd–10th Heaviest):
  The next nine heaviest silvers earn cash and prizes.
   

• Tagged Fish – Catch one of our 10 specially tagged silver salmon and you could win up to $20,000.
   

• Cumulative Weight Prize – Awarded for the heaviest total weight of multiple salmon caught by a single angler during the derby. Top prize for both a local and non-local angler. 

Miscellaneous Prizes

• First Weighed Fish of the Derby– Compete with other anglers to get your salmon first at the weigh station and win a prize.

• Daily Derby Champ – Each day brings a fresh chance to top the board and win a daily cash prize.
   

• Mystery Weight Prizes – Match a secret daily “mystery weight” and win, even if your fish isn’t the biggest.
   

•  Anniversary Catch: A prize awarded to the angler who lands the 70th heaviest fish of the derby, celebrating the event’s 70th anniversary!

Specialty Categories

• Youth Division – Prizes for anglers age 15 and under, including top 3 heaviest and daily prizes.
   

• Smallest Fish – A fun category for the lightest qualifying silver salmon (over 3 pounds).
   

• Non-Motorized Categories – Prizes for heaviest silver caught from shore, kayak, or sailboat.
                                                                                                                                                                          

How It Works

The Derby spans multiple days and anglers can participate by purchasing either a one-day ticket or a full-tournament pass, allowing them to fish for just a day or compete for the entire event. Competitors can fish from private boats, charters, kayaks, or even from sailboats or the shore, within designated Derby waters.

Every eligible catch must be weighed at the official Derby Booth in Seward Harbor before the daily cutoff time. The leaderboard updates regularly, keeping the competition lively as anglers strive to top the rankings.

Before You Cast—Get Registered

Planning to reel in a winner? Make sure you are officially registered before your line hits the water. No ticket, no prize—even if you catch the fish of a lifetime. You can register for a single day or the whole derby, but you’ve got to be signed up first.

Pro tip: Register early and save with our early bird special.

How To Register

1. Individual Angler

Most participants enter the derby on their own, choosing to register for just one day or the entire derby week. Every ticket gives you access to the full prize pool—including daily leaders, mystery weights and the shot at a tagged fish worth up to $20,000.

• Daily Derby Ticket – $20/day

• Full Derby Pass – $85 through July 31 with the early bird special; $100 after

• Youth (15 & under) – $20/day

• Choose your method: private boat, kayak, sailboat or shore fishing

You can register online in advance or stop by the Derby Booth at the Seward Boat Harbor to sign up during the event. You must register before 9 a.m. online and 1 p.m. in person at the Derby Booth before you begin fishing the same day to be eligible to fish in the derby. You may purchase tickets in advance. 

The Derby Booth and weigh-in station are open daily from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m., except on the last day of the derby when we finish at noon.

2. Professional Fishing Category (New!)

Licensed charter captains can now register their boats to compete in the Professional Fishing Category, offering extra exposure, added perks for clients and a dedicated prize pool.

Here’s how it works:

• Charter boats register in advance through hbt.seward.com

• Choose your boat type:
   

  • $200 – Boats licensed for up to 6 passengers (“6-pack”)

  • $400 – Boats licensed for more than 6 passengers
     

• Once registered, captains receive a promo code to give to their clients

• Clients fish for free in the derby on the days they’re on your boat (no additional derby ticket purchase required, however, clients must register online with the promo code given to be eligible for derby participation. 

• Fish caught on your boat from clients are eligible for both general derby prizes and Professional Division prizes. 

Pro-Division Prizes:

• $500 to the client who lands the heaviest fish on a registered pro-boat

• $500 + Trophy awarded to the captain of that boat
   

This category highlights the skill and success of Seward’s professional fishing fleet while offering visiting clients a seamless way to participate in the derby—no extra ticket, no hassle, just great fishing and a shot at the prize board!

Add Some Extra Excitement: Side Pot Betting

Think you’ve got what it takes to land a top contender? Want to add a little thrill to your time on the water—and maybe walk away with a whole lot more cash? Enter a Side Bet Pool—a fun, optional way to boost your winnings beyond the main derby prizes.

These pools are open to all registered anglers, and they offer a chance to win real money, even if you don’t top the main leaderboard.

How it works:

• Choose from a variety of side pot fees when you register - pots range from $10 - $250

• Pay the pot fee

• If your fish ranks in the top three heaviest for that pool, you win a share of the pot pool:
   

  • 1st Place: 50%

  • 2nd Place: 30%

  • 3rd Place: 20%
     

There’s even a “Guess the Winning Weight” pool, open to both anglers and non-anglers. It’s just $5 to enter and 80% of the pot goes to the closest guess.

Side pots aren’t just a thrill—they’re a shot at hundreds or even thousands in bonus winnings. Whether you're tossing in a ten or playing high stakes in the $250 pool, it’s a fun, strategic way to fish with more on the line.

Supporting Local Fishing and Conservation

Participating in the Seward Silver Salmon Derby isn’t just about winning—it’s about giving back to the future of fishing in Resurrection Bay. Through the Derby’s Buy Back Program, anglers can choose to purchase their fish at weigh-in for a small fee. The proceeds from all fish sales go directly to the Resurrection Bay Fish Enhancement Fund, which helps fund coho salmon hatchery programs and restoration efforts. That means every fish weighed supports healthy salmon runs, stronger future derbies, and sustainable fishing for generations to come. You can also donate to the fish restoration fund on the registration page and throughout the derby at the Derby Booth. 

Join the Tradition!

Whether you're an experienced angler aiming for a trophy fish, hoping for a lucky tagged salmon, or simply looking to enjoy an unforgettable fishing experience, the Seward Salmon Derby is a can’t-miss event. Cast your line, compete for exciting prizes, and be a part of one of Alaska’s most cherished fishing traditions—all while helping to support sustainable fisheries for future generations!

Click here to register!