Nanaimo’s Jeff Addison held out through the weekend to win the 46nd Annual Port Alberni Salmon Derby.
Addison said after landing his lunker early Saturday, it was a tense two day wait to the final bell.
Addison, whose family has a cabin in Bamfield says he’s fished the derby a couple of times before, said he’s happy his 34.5-pound chinook turned out to be the winner.
He said he’ll probably put the money towards a new car for his wife.
With the annual salmon festival away from its long-time home of Clutesi Haven Marina for the first time, festival president Dan Washington said it was a challenge.
He said almost all comments were incredibly positive, and volunteers came out in droves despite the heat.
But ultimately, the weekend is about the fish, and the more than 2500 anglers who bought derby tickets
Justin Kumagai won the Fred Duncan Memorial trophy having caught the largest fish for a local angler, bringing in a 29.3 pounder to win yesterday
Ian Thomas was awarded the Egon Matheson award for top volunteer of the weekend