Support California’s top salmon conservation organization while having fun and a shot at $1,000 in the annual Golden Gate Salmon Association Red Bluff Salmon Derby Saturday, October 10. The derby is open to anglers of all ages.

Salmon can be caught anywhere as long as they are weighed, gilled and gutted between 1:30 and 3:30 pm at Durango RV Resort in Red Bluff. (California Fish and Wildlife regulations apply). There will be no late weigh-ins. The $59 entry fee includes one fish weighed, lunch and refreshments, one raffle ticket, and a one-year membership in the Golden Gate Salmon Association (GGSA).

Prizes include $1000 for biggest fish, 2nd place is $500 and third place is $250. The raffle will include rod, tackle and other related fishing gear and experiences including guided rainbow trout fishing trips.

Contest organizers Victor Gonella of GGSA and river guide Robert Weese are hoping this year’s winner will top last year’s 29 pound salmon. The year prior the top fish came in at a monster 48 pounds.

“Fishing in the derby is a fun way to support having more salmon in years to come and maybe catching the big fish,” said Gonella, who is also the founder of GGSA. “It’s great to have an event that reminds us all how much fun and sport is derived from catching and eating California king salmon.”

Proceeds will support GGSA’s work rebuilding the Central Valley salmon runs that provide a major economic shot both on the coast and along the Sacramento River. In 2014 and 2015 GGSA succeeded in getting virtually all Central Valley hatchery produced baby salmon transported around the drought to safe release sites, a move that should pay off when more adult salmon starting next year.

Fishermen can enter at www.goldengatesalmonassociation.org or call (855) 251-GGSA or Red Bluff Sporting Goods, Riverbend Store plus tickets and reservations can also be made at Durango RV Resort and for overnight stays by calling (530) 527-5300. For additional event details and fishing information call 530-755-7196.

Sponsors include: Corning Ford, Red Bluff Dodge, Finance Concepts, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Victory Auto World, Stricktly Fishing, Warden’s Lure Co., Yakima Bait and Tackle, Les Schwab, Western Outdoor News, Fish Sniffer, Northern California Guide Service, Bud’s Jolly Cone, Red Bluff Sporting Goods, Luigi’s Pizza, RedBankOutfitters.com, sacriverguide.com, the Riverbend Store, cleanrite-buildrite.com, norcalsalmonguide.com, Red Bluff Yamaha, and Buds Jolly Cone.

The Golden Gate Salmon Association (www.goldengatesalmonassociation.org) is a coalition of salmon advocates that includes commercial and recreational salmon fisherman, businesses, restaurants, a native tribe, environmentalists, elected officials, families and communities that rely on salmon. GGSA’s mission is to protect and restore California’s largest salmon producing habitat comprised of the Central Valley river’s that feed the Bay-Delta ecosystem and the communities that rely on salmon as a long-term, sustainable, commercial, recreational and cultural resource.

Currently, California’s salmon industry is valued at $1.4 billion in economic activity annually and about half that much in economic activity and jobs again in Oregon. The industry employs tens of thousands of people from Santa Barbara to northern Oregon. This is a huge economic bloc made up of commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen (fresh and salt water), fish processors, marinas, coastal communities, equipment manufacturers, the hotel and food industry, tribes, and the salmon fishing industry at large.