The derby will take place from May 26 through June until the groups reach their goal of 400 donated chinook salmon. The fish groups are now trying to get the message out to the fishing community of northern California that the Salmon BBQ needs their help.

Due to low salmon returns on the Klamath River caused by years of federal and state government mismanagement, the 2006 commercial salmon fishing season has been drastically reduced. Recreational anglers have a relatively intact salmon season now only because of the efforts of a broad coalition of recreational fishing, commercial fishing groups and Klamath River Indian Tribes that vigorously protested against the Bush administration’s unprecedented plan to close all salmon fishing along the coast north of Point Sur.

In the past, local commercial fishermen have donated fish to the BBQ as a way to raise funds for the Salmon Restoration Association’s salmon hatchery on the Eel River. Unfortunately, commercial fishermen, because of their severely restricted season, won’t be able to supply the salmon for the event.

“Our hatchery has 80,000 juvenile chinooks right now,” said Jim Martin, West Coast Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance. “Our hatchery would not exist without the salmon barbecue, since the proceeds from the annual barbecue fund it. This year's BBQ is set for Saturday, July 1st at Noyo Harbor; imagine what the Salmon BBQ would without salmon!”

The salmon barbecue has become an integral component of North Coast tradition and history. Representative Mike Thompson of the 3rd District has filed The Salmon Restoration Association's "World’s Largest Salmon Barbeque" as a “Local Legacy” project with the Library of Congress.

The three groups are teaming up to sponsor the ocean salmon derby in June to draw attention to the plight of the salmon fishery, local efforts to restore salmon populations, and the way sport fishermen can save the day - by donating some of their salmon catch this year for the "World's Largest Salmon BBQ."

The Noyo Salmon Derby is open to the public and there is no entry fee. Simply register at any time, weigh in your fish and have a chance at raffle and competitive category prizes. This is a fun derby with many chances to win. Local businesses will donate prizes for weekly drawings and there will be a grand prize drawing at the end of the month.

You don't need to donate a fish to enter the derby, but event organizers are encouraging all recreational anglers to consider donating some of their catch this year to keep the BBQ running and put something back into the fishery that they love.

“Our goal is to donate 400 salmon to the BBQ,” said Lance McGrath of the North Coast Fishermen’s Club, a local organization that just started this year to organize North Coast anglers in support of their fishing rights and fish restoration. “Look for the big banner at Sportsmen's Dock as you return after fishing at Noyo Harbor, weigh in your fish and enter. We have lot of great prizes for the event.”

Special events will be held on weekends throughout the month of June at the docks. You can donate fish on the spot and volunteers will clean the fish and filet them for the BBQ. You can also drop off fish at any time at Redwood Liquors on Main St. in Fort Bragg.

The derby will take place at a time when some of the top fishing of the year is expected to take place off the Mendocino County Coast. The slow fishing off Fort Bragg to date appeared to undergo a major change on Monday, May 15, when a number of boats reported catching salmon limits while trolling out of Noyo Harbor. McGrath and his brother-in-law, Jerry, had a great morning of fishing that day.

“We trolled straight out of the harbor in 200 feet of water with anchovies behind dodgers,” said McGrath. “We landed four fish around 20 pounds each in just two hours of fishing.”

He added, “I have never seen salmon hit so hard in my life. It was like the fish were trying to tear off the side of my boat.”

Their largest fish, a plump 21 lb. chinook, was absolutely crammed with krill. “When we put it up on the scale, the fish was so full of krill that a big glob of krill came out of it,” he noted.

The Salmon Restoration Association exists for one reason: “To take positive, measurable action to restore the natural wild salmon runs to rivers of Northern California,” according to the group’s mission statement on their website. The primary concern at this time is supporting Hollow Tree Creek Hatchery, located on a tributary to the Eel River in Hales Grove.

The non-profit organization’s primary funding comes from two sources: the annual barbecue and the Department of Fish and Game. The DFG reserves a portion of the sales of commercial salmon tags for restoration work.

Founded by Ray Welsh and Bill Grader, SRA has put on the annual "World's Largest Salmon Barbecue,” since 1972. In 1983 the Salmon Stamp Program funded construction of a permanent fish trap on Hollow Tree Creek to replace the inoperative weir, at a cost of $50,000. Since then the Stamp Committee has financially assisted the SRA hatchery operation at Hollow Tree Creek and a similar facility on Ten Mile River.

The hatchery will release king salmon fingerlings into the Hollow Tree Creek this June to enhance the North Coast salmon fishery, according to Joe Janisch, president of the Salmon Restoration Association. The facility spawns anywhere from 100 to 500 king salmon every fall.

Registration for the derby takes place at the Sportsmen Dock in Noyo Harbor between 7 am and 1 pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting May 26.