Despite less-than-stellar weather and some last-minute operating changes, the 28th annual Anchor Point King Salmon Tournament saw another successful turnout.
Due to mechanical failures at the Anchor Point Boat Launch, the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday, May 3 on their Facebook page that anglers would need to launch out of Ninilchik’s Deep Creek or the Homer Harbor. The chamber moved the lines-in time from 6 a.m. up to 8 a.m. in order to accommodate additional travel time and launch time due to the location changes. Weigh-ins were completed at the chamber building.
Sixty-one anglers fished this year’s tournament, with 12 boats registered and 19 fish caught overall. The number of anglers registered increased by nearly 50% from the 2022 tournament, according to chamber vice president Erin Jerde. The majority of those competing in the 28th annual tournament were local anglers from Anchor Point, Nikolaevsk, Homer and Ninilchik, with some participants coming down from the Anchorage area to compete.
This year’s first-place fish was caught by Judy Persnail on the Outlaw with a 21.55 pound catch. Persnail earned $1,769 for her king salmon. Second place went to Mark Tornai, also on the Outlaw, for his 18.8-pound catch, for which he earned $854. Third place was awarded to Joe Marx on the Catcher for his 16.3-pound king salmon, for which he earned $488.
Jesse Pasch, fishing on the Spare Change, won the average fish award for a 14.2-pound catch and received $366. The first fish of the day, weighing 15.65 pounds, was caught at 8:13 a.m. by Joe Allred, fishing on the Catcher. Allred won a Lamiglass fishing rod for catching the first fish of the tournament.
There was no top youth angler award presented this year, as neither of the two youth registered for the tournament landed a fish. Shannon Palmer, APCOC secretary and donator of the $500 youth angler prize that was set to be awarded this year, instead designated use of those funds for those youths’ registration in the 2024 tournament. The remaining funds will be rolled over into the 2024 top youth angler prize.
This year’s side bet winners were George Krier on the Catcher for the $50 side bet, winning $360 and Steve Tutt on the Redemption for both the $150 side bet, winning $630, and the $200 side bet, winning $840.
This year’s Calcutta winner was Randy Beller on the Outlaw, winning $2,612.50.
The Anchor Point King Salmon Calcutta and Tournament is not only an opportunity for locals to participate in and win prizes, but also a fundraiser for the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce. Funds raised from the event help the chamber to “donate bikes to the youth directly in (the Anchor Point) community, assist in holiday baskets and gifts for those that need it most, help with youth sports and school events, the (annual) Anchor Point Snow Rondi, and eventually a scholarship program that will benefit those looking to continue their education,” APCOC wrote in an April 23 Facebook post.
For more information about the annual Calcutta and tournament, visit facebook.com/APChamberofCommerce/.
The 28th annual Anchor Point King Salmon Tournament third place winner, Joe Marx (right) holds up his fish during weigh-in on Saturday, May 6 at the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce building in Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Mcki Needham
Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce boardmembers celebrate another successful year for the Anchor Point King Salmon Tournament on Saturday, May 6 at the VFW Post 10221 in Anchor Point, Alaska. Pictured left to right: Mcki Needham, Sarah Beller, Erin Jerde, Dawson Slaughter, Shannon Palmer. Photo courtesy of Mcki Needham
The 28th annual Anchor Point King Salmon Tournament first and second place winners, Judy Persnail (right) and Mark Tornai (left) from the boat Outlaw hold up their fish during weigh-in on Saturday, May 6 at the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce building in Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Mcki Needham
