Connecting since 1955
The Annual Kitimat Fish Derby is a popular annual event and is usually held during Labour Day weekend. It is a two-day event where participants compete for various prizes by fishing for Coho salmon along the Kitimat River or Douglas Channel, either from shore or on a boat. There are age categories (men, women, and junior/youth) with prizes, both cash and rods and reels.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the 2026 Kitimat Fishing Derby such a great success... a 'reeling' big success! From our generous sponsors and prize donors to the volunteers, supporters, participants and everyone who came out to enjoy the weekend, this event truly is a community effort.
We’re grateful for every contribution, big and small, that helped make the weekend possible. And even the weather decided to cooperate!
Thank you for being part of another fantastic Coho Derby. We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2027 for the 40th!
When
Weigh-ins and BBQ Location
How Much are Tickets
Where Do I Purchase Tickets?
A special thank you to Swept Away Photography for capturing the fun and thrills of the event! Here are a few great pictures captured of the event to look back on.
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Weigh-ins on Saturday | 61 |
| Weigh-ins on Sunday | 86 |
| Total weigh-ins | 147 |
| Adult ocean fish weighed in | 26 |
| Adult river fish weighed in | 102 |
| Youth fish weighed in | 19 |
| Prize | Donated By | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| VHF Marine Radio | RG's Auto Marine | Tyler Flegel |
| Metal Detector | Kitimat Chamber | Etha Germaine |
| Milwaukee 4-Piece Kit – $650 | Emporium / Milwaukee | Steve Venman |
| GoPro | Kitimat Chamber | Amelia Pawlak |
| KAILANI Cooler | WSG Energy Services | Sidney Penner |
| Drift for 2 People | Kingfish Adventure | Fabian Lueth |
| Drift for 3 People | Kitimat Lodge | Ryan Hansen |
| Ride the Bus Raffle Prize 30-minute helicopter ride |
Canadian Helicopters; bus donated by Transdev | Kathy Leuze |
Each Hidden Weight winner received $250. Winners were the first weigh-in closest to the selected hidden weight.
| Winner | Weight |
|---|---|
| Knox Shewchuk | 3 lbs 3 oz |
| Steve Dale | 5 lbs 5 oz |
| Tyler Flegel | 7 lbs 8 oz |
| Atti Zielinski | 7 lbs 15 oz |
| Taylor James | 8 lbs 6 oz |
| Emma Cabral | 8 lbs 13 oz |
| Donald Pacheco | 9 lbs 2 oz |
| Floyd Cambongga | 9 lbs 11 oz |
| Jeff Burkitt | 10 lbs 1 oz |
| Christopher Nuzzo | 10 lbs 7 oz |
| Place / Prize | Winner | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Place – $250 donated by Royal Canadian Legion #250; Rod & Reel donated by Ron's Bait & Tackle |
Weston Travis | 11 lbs 9 oz |
| 2nd Place – $100 donated by Royal Canadian Legion #250 | Preston Reese | 9 lbs 9 oz |
| 3rd Place – $50 donated by Royal Canadian Legion #250 | Jaymin Fertado | 9 lbs 4 oz |
| Place / Prize | Winner | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Place – $1,000 donated by Sandhill; Rod & Reel donated by Bradley's Bait & Tackle; Wooden Board donated by Nathan Kearley |
Seth Horsefall | 12 lbs 3 oz |
| 2nd Place – $500 donated by Dal Monte's Wood-Craft Ltd. | Teddy Biggas | 12 lbs 1 oz |
| 3rd Place – $250 donated by Brad Boyko, King of Springs | Jinu Vargheese | 11 lbs 9 oz |
| Place / Prize | Winner | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Place – Cash & Rod & Reel donated by MK Bay Marina; Wooden Board donated by Nathan Kearley |
Robert Sanesh | 14 lbs 1 oz |
| 2nd Place – Cash Prize donated by Den of Destruction | Hugh Fraser | 11 lbs 2 oz |
| 3rd Place – Cash Prize donated by Brad Boyko, King of Springs |
Keaton Demelo | 11 lbs 2 oz |
107 prizes given away
Saturday weigh-ins: 61
Sunday weigh-ins: 86
Total weigh-ins: 147
Adult ocean fish weighed in: 26
Adult river fish weighed in: 102
Youth fish weighed in: 19
VHF Marine Radio
Donated by RG's Auto Marine
Winner: Tyler Flegel
Metal Detector
Donated by Kitimat Chamber
Winner: Etha Germaine
Milwaukee 4-Piece Kit – $650
Donated by Emporium / Milwaukee
Winner: Steve Venman
GoPro
Donated by Kitimat Chamber
Winner: Amelia Pawlak
KAILANI Cooler
Donated by WSG Energy Services
Winner: Sidney Penner
Drift for 2 People
Donated by Kingfish Adventure
Winner: Fabian Lueth
Drift for 3 People
Donated by Kitimat Lodge
Winner: Ryan Hansen
Ride the Bus Raffle Prize – 30-minute helicopter ride
Canadian Helicopters; bus donated by Transdev
Winner: Kathy Leuze
Each Hidden Weight winner received $250. Winners were the first weigh-in closest to the selected hidden weight.
Knox Shewchuk
3 lbs 3 oz
Steve Dale
5 lbs 5 oz
Tyler Flegel
7 lbs 8 oz
Atti Zielinski
7 lbs 15 oz
Taylor James
8 lbs 6 oz
Emma Cabral
8 lbs 13 oz
Donald Pacheco
9 lbs 2 oz
Floyd Cambongga
9 lbs 11 oz
Jeff Burkitt
10 lbs 1 oz
Christopher Nuzzo
10 lbs 7 oz
1st Place – Curtis Travis
Weight: 11 lbs 9 oz
$250 donated by Royal Canadian Legion #250
Rod & Reel donated by Ron's Bait & Tackle
2nd Place – Preston Reese
Weight: 9 lbs 9 oz
$100 donated by Royal Canadian Legion #250
3rd Place – Jaymin Fertado
Weight: 9 lbs 4 oz
$50 donated by Royal Canadian Legion #250
1st Place – Seth Horsefall
Weight: 12 lbs 3 oz
$1,000 donated by Sandhill
Rod & Reel donated by Bradley's Bait & Tackle
Wooden Board donated by Nathan Kearley
2nd Place – Teddy Biggas
Weight: 12 lbs 1 oz
$500 donated by Dal Monte's Wood-Craft Ltd.
3rd Place – Jinu Vargheese
Weight: 11 lbs 9 oz
$250 donated by Brad Boyko, King of Springs
1st Place – Robert Sanesh
Weight: 14 lbs 1 oz
Cash & Rod & Reel donated by MK Bay Marina
Wooden Board donated by Nathan Kearley
2nd Place – Hugh Fraser
Weight: 11 lbs 2 oz
Cash Prize donated by Den of Destruction
3rd Place – Keaton Demelo
Weight: 11 lbs 2 oz
Cash Prize donated by Brad Boyko, King of Springs
107 prizes given away
2026 Derby Prizes
Ocean – Adult
1st — $1,000
Donated by MK Bay Marina + Rod & Reel
2nd — $500
Donated by Den of Destruction
3rd — $250
Donated by Brad Boyko, King of Springs
River – Adult
1st — $1,000
Rod & Reel donated by Bradley’s Bait & Tackle; money donated by Sandhill
2nd — $500
Donated by Dal Monte’s Wood-Craft Ltd
3rd — $250
Donated by Brad Boyko, King of Springs
Youth – River or Ocean
1st — $250
Rod & Reel donated by Ron’s Bait & Tackle; money donated by Royal Canadian Legion
2nd — $100
Donated by Royal Canadian Legion
3rd — $50
Donated by Royal Canadian Legion
Plus: 10 hidden weight prizes for $250 each.
Prizes are coming in daily for the raffle portion so you will see when you get here. For the actual derby, we have more prizes and more $$$ thanks to all our sponsors, special thanks to Ledcor.
Yes, if you purchase a ticket you will be entered in the raffle even if you don’t fish. For the major prizes, you must be on site to win! If you’re not, we’ll draw another ticket.
Winners will be announced at the Kitimat Rod & Gun Club, Ceremonies will start between 6:30 - 6:45 PM.
Yes, and make sure to write your name on it!
Parking is very limited so carpool or take us up on our offer for the FREE SHUTTLE thanks to Trans Dev
Yes! Pickup is at Bradley’s Bait & Tackle and Riverlodge. The shuttle will run from 4pm - 7pm.
Yes! People who ride the shuttle will be entered in the draw to win a 30 minute helicopter ride from Canadian Helicopters!
Yes! The BBQ will be provided by the Kitimat Humane Society. Tiana from Nana’s Little Town Play Cafe will be serving coffee, lattes, baked good, and more!
There will be large board games for the kids to play with!
We love our dogs in Kitimat, and we love our neighbors, so let’s leave the dogs at home so if someone has a fear of dogs there won’t be an issue.
Bring an umbrella or a good rain coat, the event will still happen rain or shine!
Here are some river safety tips to keep you and others safe:
We are thrilled to report that the 38th Annual Fishing Derby came and delivered! Another successful community event for the residents of the community. Thank you to everyone who threw their lines in the waters, hoping for a great catch and bragging rights, naturally. Here is the official list of winners for this year, though we have to say, whether it was a seasoned fisher or the new kid on the block, we saw smiles all around, which makes everyone a winner in our books.
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