The 30th annual Winter King Tournament is coming up soon on Saturday, March 23 — weather permitting!
All registered anglers must have a 2024 fishing license and a valid king salmon stamp, and must comply with all Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulations.
Lines go in at 9 a.m. and must be out at 4 p.m. Weigh-in will begin at 2 p.m. Anglers must be in line at tournament headquarters no later than 6 p.m. to be eligible for weigh-in.
In the event of inclement weather on Saturday, the tournament will be postponed until Sunday, March 24, according to the official rules posted on the tournament website. If bad weather conditions continue, the tournament will be postponed until the following week on Saturday, March 30 or Sunday, March 31.
“In case of questionable weather prior to start of fishing, the Tournament Officials will assess the conditions every thirty minutes, with the final decision for the day being made prior to 9 a.m.,” the website states.
This year’s event will be held at the Deep Water Dock at 4667 Freight Dock Road. In addition to the main tournament, boats can also participate in team side tourneys or win prizes through drawings, according to the tournament website. Festivities featuring live music, a beer and wine garden, food trucks, vendors and some “extra surprises” in celebration of the tournament’s 30th anniversary will be held at the weigh-in stations by the Deep Water Dock after lines are pulled from the water.
Recognized as the largest fishing tournament on the West Coast, in 2023 the Winter King Salmon Tournament recorded 818 anglers and 273 boats participating. 101 fish were weighed in by the tournament’s end. $132,129 in prize money was given out last year, along with a record amount of merchandise prizes worth over $31,000, more than double the number of prizes awarded in the 2022 tournament, Homer News previously reported.
The 2023 tournament champion was Gail Bilyeu on the El Negro, with a fish weighing in 26.12 pounds. The 2023 youth prize winner was then-9-year-old Liam Carney on the Southern Charm 2, with a king weighing in at 16.54 pounds.
Newly offered for the 2024 tournament will be a championship trophy created by Bay Weld Boats, in addition to the traditional champion’s vest from NOMAR that is given out to the tournament top angler.
Also new this year is a tournament Kick Off Party to be held at Alice’s Champagne Palace on Friday, March 22 starting at 5:30 p.m., where Grace Ridge Brewing will debut their new Winter King Tournament special brew. Homer Chamber of Commerce staff will also be available at the party to assist tournament participants with late-minute registrations and side tourneys.
To register, visit www.homerwinterking.com/. For more information, contact the Homer Chamber of Commerce at 907-235-7740 or info@homeralaska.org.
