Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby?

The Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby is a season-long fishing derby (running May to September Long Weekend) that awards thousands of dollars in monthly cash and prizes to participating anglers with all net proceeds benefiting local salmon enhancement projects.

The top 15 fish caught each month, along with the top 65 of the season, Fish Off for huge cash and prizes (up to $60,000 value) at the Fish Off on September 7th and 8th, 2012. Anglers that don't qualify for a Fish Off position have an opportunity to win a spot through the Fish Off draw. Anglers also have an opportunity to win $250,000 through the Hidden Weight Grand Prize.

Where do I get my ticket?

Tickets are available online through a secured PayPal sytem or by cash at the following vendors:

Port Alberni: Gone Fishin'; Port Boat House; Breakers Marine (Bamfield)

Coombs: Pacific Net & Twine

Tofino: Storm Light Outfitters; Clayoquot Ventures

Ucluelet: Aquamarine Adventures; Black Rock Resort, Canadian Princess Resort; Little Beach Resort; Reef Point Cottages, Long Beach Charters; No. 1 Market; Ukee Scoops and Tours; Petro Canada; Pioneer Boat Works; Thornton Motel; West Coast Motel

Early-bird tickets are available December 1^st for the 2011 Christmas season and will remain on sale until March 31^st, 2012.

What are the prizes?

Monthly Prizes for 2012

May 31^st: 1^st Prize: $1000 2^nd Prize: $250 3^rd Prize: $100

The top 15 fish on the ladder automatically qualify for the Fish Off.
Fish in positions 16 through to 50 are eligible for the mid-August Draw.

June 30^th: 1^st Prize: $5000
($3000 in cash, $2000 in prizes) 2^nd Prize: $2000
($1500 in cash, $500 in prizes) 3^rd Prize: $1000
($500 in cash, $500 in prizes)

The top 15 fish on the ladder automatically qualify for the Fish Off.
Fish in positions 16 through to 50 are eligible for the mid-August Draw.

July 31^st: 1^st Prize: $5000
($3000 in cash, $2000 in prizes) 2^nd Prize: $2000
($1500 in cash, $500 in prizes) 3^rd Prize: $1000
($500 in cash, $500 in prizes)

The top 15 fish on the ladder automatically qualify for the Fish Off.
Fish in positions 16 through to 50 are eligible for the mid-August Draw.

September 3^rd: 1^st Prize: $5000
($3000 in cash, $2000 in prizes) 2^nd Prize: $2000
($1500 in cash, $500 in prizes) 3^rd Prize: $1000
($500 in cash, $500 in prizes)

Top 65 in Fish Off

Fish Off will be on Friday & Saturday, September 7^th & 8^th, 2012.
Awards and the festival will be on Sunday, September 9^th from 10am to 4pm.

Prizes may include accommodation packages, fishing packages including multi-day guided fishing charters, gear for your boat, tackle and services to help with your sport fishing holiday such as vacuum packing, processing, and smoking services.

Where do we fish?

During the regular season for the Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby 2012 (May 1st - September 3rd), we have established boundaries based on the DFO Pacific Fishery Regions and as set out in the Regulations section of this website.
Official Fishing Boundaries include Areas 23-4; 23-5; 23-6; 23-7; 23-8; 23-9; 23-10; 23-11 all inclusive and Area 123 & Area 124 - basically anywhere between Pachena Point and Lennard Island.

Maps are available through DFO web links under the Regulations. Special rules apply for the Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby Fish Off on September 7^th and 8^th.

How much?

The derby tickets are $10 per day or $50 for the summer season.
Early-bird seasons tickets are just $35 and are available December 1^st - March 31^st, 2012. This ticket allows you to participate throughout the entire summer event.

One Day $10

Two consecutive days $20

Three consecutive days $30

Four consecutive days $40

Annual (May to September) $50

Early-bird $35 (Dec 1/11 to Mar 31/12)

New for 2012 - Family Packages: Fish as a family! Tickets for the Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby are now available in Family Packages for family groups of 4 or more. Family Packages are only $50.00 for the group which allows each family member to participate in the derby for 2 days. Family Package tickets are only available through local accommodation providers.

How do we get to Ucluelet? (pronounced: You-clue-let)

Located on the stunning west coast of Vancouver Island, we are situated on the Ucluth Peninsula and are completely surrounded by world class fishing grounds.

By boat: Customs are at the Ucluelet 52 steps – long. 48°.56'.26"N Lat.125°.32'.26"W

By car: From Nanaimo – head north on Hwy #19 until you arrive at Qualicum Beach.
From Courtenay/Comox – head south on Hwy # 19 to Qualicum Beach turn off and from there head west toward Port Alberni on Hwy #4; at Port Alberni continue through on Hwy #4 to the Ucluelet-Tofino junction where you turn left and 8 km down the road you will find the friendly coastal community of Ucluelet.

When is the derby?

The first day of the 2012 derby is Tuesday, May 1^st and the fishing is on throughout the summer until Monday, September 3^rd. Fishing takes place between sunrise and sunset and the weigh stations are open from 10am to just past sunset (note closing times vary according to the sunset).

The weigh stations will be manned during the busy mid-day landings between 12 noon and 6 pm. At all other times derby staff is available on call at 250-731-0362. Call as you are entering the harbour and we will meet you at the dock to weigh-in and register your catch.

Your information and photo will be taken and posted to the Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby ladder online.

Why did we start the Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby?

The Thornton Creek Hatchery, run mostly by volunteers, hatch and release hundreds of thousands of Chinook, coho and chum salmon into several water systems in the local area. Hatchery raised fish see a much higher survival and return rate than fish hatched in the wild; in short, the hatchery's efforts are successful!

In recent years the government has seriously cut back funding to the Thornton Creek Hatchery. The sport fishing community and the community of Ucluelet support the salmon enhancement projects and will provide backing to see them continued.

They Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby raises awareness for this cause and all net proceeds of the event are donated to salmon enhancement on the west coast.

Who is benefitting from the derby?

Salmon Enhancement: We are raising awareness for the protection and conservation of the west coast's most precious resource - wild pacific salmon. All proceeds will be forwarded to the Thornton Creek Hatchery with a portion going to the Pacific Salmon Foundation.

The Community: They Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby also plays a huge role in economical development for the community of Ucluelet. New visitors come to Ucluelet to participate in the derby and the festival bringing their family and friends. This increases tourism and business for sport fishing guides, accommodation providers, activity guides, restaurants, and shops. It provides full time, seasonal employment for members of the Ucluelet Community and has put Ucluelet in the spot light as a WORLD CLASS fishing destination.

The Participants: Who doesn't want to win thousands of dollars in cash and prizes by doing something they already LOVE to do? It's a no brainer!

May 31^st:	1^st Prize: $1000	2^nd Prize: $250	3^rd Prize: $100
	The top 15 fish on the ladder automatically qualify for the Fish Off. Fish in positions 16 through to 50 are eligible for the mid-August Draw.
June 30^th:	1^st Prize: $5000 ($3000 in cash, $2000 in prizes)	2^nd Prize: $2000 ($1500 in cash, $500 in prizes)	3^rd Prize: $1000 ($500 in cash, $500 in prizes)
	The top 15 fish on the ladder automatically qualify for the Fish Off. Fish in positions 16 through to 50 are eligible for the mid-August Draw.
July 31^st:	1^st Prize: $5000 ($3000 in cash, $2000 in prizes)	2^nd Prize: $2000 ($1500 in cash, $500 in prizes)	3^rd Prize: $1000 ($500 in cash, $500 in prizes)
	The top 15 fish on the ladder automatically qualify for the Fish Off. Fish in positions 16 through to 50 are eligible for the mid-August Draw.
September 3^rd:	1^st Prize: $5000 ($3000 in cash, $2000 in prizes)	2^nd Prize: $2000 ($1500 in cash, $500 in prizes)	3^rd Prize: $1000 ($500 in cash, $500 in prizes)
	Top 65 in Fish Off

Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly Prizes

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

Port Alberni:	Gone Fishin'; Port Boat House; Breakers Marine (Bamfield)
Coombs:	Pacific Net & Twine
Tofino:	Storm Light Outfitters; Clayoquot Ventures
Ucluelet:	Aquamarine Adventures; Black Rock Resort, Canadian Princess Resort; Little Beach Resort; Reef Point Cottages, Long Beach Charters; No. 1 Market; Ukee Scoops and Tours; Petro Canada; Pioneer Boat Works; Thornton Motel; West Coast Motel

One Day	$10
Two consecutive days	$20
Three consecutive days	$30
Four consecutive days	$40
Annual (May to September)	$50
Early-bird	$35 (Dec 1/11 to Mar 31/12)

By boat:	Customs are at the Ucluelet 52 steps – long. 48°.56'.26"N Lat.125°.32'.26"W
By car:	From Nanaimo – head north on Hwy #19 until you arrive at Qualicum Beach. From Courtenay/Comox – head south on Hwy # 19 to Qualicum Beach turn off and from there head west toward Port Alberni on Hwy #4; at Port Alberni continue through on Hwy #4 to the Ucluelet-Tofino junction where you turn left and 8 km down the road you will find the friendly coastal community of Ucluelet.