Salmon Enhancement Derby

at Moutcha Bay Resort

Jun 24 – 25 2023

Event Information

The Salmon Enhancement Derby has been taking place annually since 2013 at Moutcha Bay Resort in Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island. This family-friendly event is designed to raise funds for salmon enhancement and habitat restoration within the Nootka Sound and Esperanza Inlet watershed.

This year, the two-day tournament will take place on June 24 & 25, with participants targeting the larger southbound Chinook along with their early migration. Prizes will be awarded to the 3 largest fish caught over the course of the derby. Expect to see a variety of items up for auction and raffle prizes throughout the weekend. As always, our goal is to raise critical funds for the Nootka Sound Watershed Society and Pacific Salmon Foundation so that we can continue to expect healthy salmon returns in the future.

Tickets are $100/rod. Register and purchase your ticket today!

Prizes, Auctions & More

The Salmon Enhancement Derby will feature a variety of draws, raffles and auctions – giving you multiple chances to take home some amazing prizes. There will be a silent auction, live auction, and of course multiple prize categories for the fish hitting the docks. The prize categories include: 1st, 2nd & 3rd largest fish, largest coho, under 16, and a few hidden weight prizes. Will your name be on the trophy this year?

Sip 4 Salmon – The Conuma Grill will be serving up pints of cold “Islander Lager” from Vancouver Island Brewing with proceeds going straight to the Nootka Sound Watershed Society.

Live Entertainment

We are pleased to announce that Luke Blu Guthrie will be joining us LIVE at the Conuma Grill on Saturday night! (June 24, 2023). The shows will kick off at 7:00pm on the Conuma Grill patio, right outside of the main lodge.

The charismatic Luke Blu Guthrie is a beacon of originality. Deeply soulful, and passionately committed to creating and sharing his music, Luke Blu has devoted much of his life to his craft. Often armed with only an acoustic guitar, Guthrie has been an integral part of the Vancouver Island music scene for two decades. He is widely respected for his versatility and skill as songwriter, vocalist and guitar player.

Our Derby Sponsors

A huge thank you goes out to all of our dedicated sponsors. We could not make this event happen year after year without your generous support.  It is critical that we raise these funds for salmon enhancement in our area for the future of salmon in Nootka Sound.

Yamaha Motor Canada & Port Boathouse Port Alberni are proud Gold Sponsors of the MoutchaBay Resort Salmon Enhancement Derby.

Register Today

Bookings for the 2023 season are open now! Contact our Guest Services team to reserve your space at Moutcha Bay Resort.

Bring your own boat, rent one of ours, or book a Guided Fishing Charter with one of our pro guides! All participants must purchase their tickets and register with Guest Services before arrival.

Salmon Enhancement Derby tickets are $100/rod.

Buy Tickets Online