Highlights Video of 2018 Buoy 10 Salmon Challenge by Don New!
On Friday, August 17th, when the first 8 teams weighed in with limits, it became evident that the 19th Annual Buoy 10 Salmon Challenge was going to be another great NSIA event. The B-10 Challenge raises thousands of dollars to support sport fishermen and the sport fishing industry. This Astoria fundraiser is one of five major events hosted by NSIA and sponsored by dozens of participating businesses.
The Biggest Fish landed and the $1,000 check that went with it was won by Dave Anderson of Team Raymarine. The team captain, Mike Surdyk, got his folks on the fish and at 26.45 gilled and gutted pounds, Anderson’s chinook outweighed last year’s winner by close to 30%. This year, all of the top 5 big fish were well over the 2017 Big Fish weight. NSIA’s longtime sponsor, North River Boats donated funds for the Big Fish winner. Team Raymarine promptly re-gifted their winnings back to NSIA.
The $1,100 Mystery Fish prize, sponsored by WeldCraft/Duckworth, was available to any angler that weighed in a fish. Dave Jidas was the 2018 lucky winner.
Many teams limited early and there was stiff competition – 103 fish caught in total! These teams managed to beat the rest:
1st Place Team-Team Raymarine-Captain Mike Surdyk (Average wt 15.18)
2nd Place Team-Team North American Hunting Competition-Captain Jason Berg (Average wt. 14.98)
3rd Place Team-Captain Dan Green (Average wt. 14.79)
The Columbia’s Buoy 10 area is the largest salmon fishery in the lower 48 states. NSIA is proud to be fighting every day for the health of this magnificent river as well as every other watershed in the Pacific Northwest, and the critical ocean habitat they flow into. Events like this year’s Buoy 10 Salmon Challenge allow NSIA to be steadfast in its mission of preserving, restoring and enhancing Northwest sportfisheries and the businesses that depend on them.
NSIA Executive Director, Liz Hamilton, says of the tournament, “The Buoy 10 Salmon Challenge has not only been the most exciting salmon fishing tournament on the lower Columbia for almost 20 years, but it is also our most important fundraiser. All funds will go toward protecting and restoring healthy river systems, defending hatcheries and the millions of smolts they release each year as well as working to increase angler access to fisheries across the Northwest.”
NSIA is deeply grateful to our wonderful sponsors! Their support allows NSIA to have a strong voice in local, state, and federal governments, advocating for policies that keep the sportfishing industry thriving in the Northwest. Please remember these companies and brands when you’re gearing up for your next trip: Abu Garcia, Berkley, Brad’s Killer Fish Gear/BS Fish Tales, Fisherman’s Marine & Outdoor, Fred Meyer, Freshwater News, G. Loomis, Lowrance, Luhr Jensen/Rapala, Maxima, North River Boats, NW Sportman Magazine, Okuma, Raymarine, Salmon Trout Steelheader Magazine, Shimano, Three Rivers Marine, TICA USA, and Weldcraft/ Duckworth.
We also would like to extend a huge thank you to all the companies that donate goods for our auctions, raffles and goody bags: Anchor Caddie, Art Martin, Atlas Mike’s Bait, BeauMac/SMI, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Big Rock Sports, BoatLife, Boone Bait Company, Cold Pruf, Comal Tackle, D & G Bait, Danielson Company, Darex, Eagle Claw, Evergreen Pacific Publishing, Far Bank/ RIO Products Intl, Inc., Gamakatsu, Glacier Gloves, Ironwood Pacific Outdoors, Mack’s Lure, Mustad, NikWax, Mustad, Owner American Corporation, Pautzke Bait Company, Pro-Cure, Pro-Troll, Sea Dog Line, Silver Horde, Smelly Jelly, Smokehouse Products, Stansport, Tempress, TTI Blakemore/Daiichi, Yakima Bait
NSIA also wishes to thank the many volunteers and Cody Herman of Day One Outdoor Adventures, who kept the evening’s festivities lively as Master of Ceremonies.