Michigan City was once known as the Coho Capital of the World, so to bring back a little of that glory, the Michigan City/La Porte Convention and Visitors Bureau is hosting its 4th Annual Coho Capital Derby from April 25 to May 31.
This derby will feature cash prizes for the heaviest salmon and heaviest trout, as well as weekly cash prizes.
Rick Wright, convention and leisure sales manager, said, the Coho Capital Derby was started in 2012 by the Michigan City/La Porte Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“This year’s tournament is five weeks long, and each week the winner of the largest trout and largest salmon will win $100,” he said.
Winners will then be entered into the big fish payoff at the end of the tournament for an additional $500 in each category, he said.
The derby is free and open to anyone. A total of $2,000 will be awarded. No preregistration is required and all of Lake Michigan and its tributaries may be fished but all state and federal sport fishing regulations apply.
Wright said, “It doesn’t matter where you catch your fish, but the only stipulation is the fish has to be weighed at the official weigh station, Lake Michigan Tackle, 1315 Franklin Street in Michigan City.”
Complete Coho Capital Derby rules are at michigancitylaporte.com and weekly standings will appear at facebook.com/MichiganCityLaPorte?ref=hl.
Past top honors went to a 20-pound, 15-ounce Chinook salmon and a 17-pound, 1-ounce brown trout. Wright said fish caught during other fishing derbies or contests still qualify for the Coho Capital Derby as long as they are weighed at Lake Michigan Tackle.
He said the tournament is growing, a sign of success.
“It’s catching on quite a bit and with social media we’re seeing an increase in charter fishing so from a fishing standpoint it’s accomplishing what we want to do,” Wright said.
The cash awards are distributed June 10 at a banquet at the Skwiat Legion Post.
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Heather Augustyn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
When: All day, April 25 to May 31
Admission: Free
Information: 219-872-5055 and michigancitylaporte.com
Coho Capital Derby