Rules - Edmonds Coho Derby

There is one significant rule change entitled One Fish, One Prize Category Rule relating to youth prizes. Please be sure to read it carefully. Additionally, the “Adult” category has been renamed to “Open”.

The PSA Sno-King Chapter (herein known as “the Club”), its Board of Directors, Edmonds Coho Derby (herein known as “ECD”) volunteers, and the sponsors of the ECD accept no responsibility for loss, damage, injury to any boat, vehicle, equipment, contestant, passengers or observers during this event. Anyone entering the ECD, or providing assistance to the ECD Officials or contestants, agrees to hold the ECD Committee, sponsors, the Club, and officials harmless for any damages or claims which may arise including injuries or death; and, in particular, if you choose to participate, you agree that you are responsible for your own safety. The Participant authorizes the Club to use, edit, copy, publish or exhibit any photographs or videos taken during this event for any lawful purpose, including commercial purposes, fundraising and any and all other promotional materials, without payment or consideration to the Participant, and the Participant waives the right to review any photographs or video.

Fishing is only allowed in the open areas of Marine areas; 8-1, 8-2, 9 and 10 in the Puget Sound. The Snohomish River, or any river, is not included in the ECD area. Fish that appear to have been caught in fresh water will be disqualified.
All contestants must fish in accordance with the current WDFW Fishing Regulations.
Everyone aboard the boat including youth must have a ticket. This includes charter boats. Random checks will be conducted.
ECD date is Saturday, September 12^th, 2026, from dawn (approximately 5:40 am) to 2:00 p.m. (weigh-in cut-off time) and all fish entered for weigh in must be caught on this day and these hours.
Salmon must be caught on the day of the event, in the designated Marine Areas, and arrive at the weigh-in location via water to qualify for weigh-in and prizes.
Hatchery fin clipped, and Wild (Native) Coho (Silvers) salmon may be weighed in to qualify for prizes. All Participants agree to comply with all current WDFW rules for each area. WDFW enforcement may be present at the weigh in stations.
Clean your fish before arriving at the weigh-in location. All guts, gills and kidney (the blood next to the spine) must be removed. ECD judges may do additional cleaning at their complete discretion before weighing.
- NOTE: The Port of Edmonds does not allow any fish cleaning within the breakwater.
Each contestant may weigh only one (1) fish. There will be no upgrading of fish. Your first fish weighed in will be your entry.
Contestants must be present to win.
There are two weigh-in locations; 1. Port of Edmonds near the launch sling. 2. Bayside Marine in Everett near the public launch area.
You must be in line with your fish by 2:00 p.m. to be eligible to weigh in your fish. Time will be determined by an ECD official’s cell phone. No exceptions! Failure to be in line by 2:00 p.m. with your fish will result in immediate disqualification.
ECD officials reserve the right to disqualify any fish that appears to have been tampered or altered, per the rules designated herein.
Prizes shall be awarded for largest coho salmon (by weight) in various categories and for the salmon coming closest to the mystery weight, without exceeding the mystery weight.
A fish, no matter if it is in the “Youth” or “Open” (formerly called “Adult”) category, may not win the first, second or third place prize AND the Mystery Weight Fish prize. If the Mystery Weight Fish matches the first, second or third place fish in either category the Mystery Weight award will be awarded to the next lowest weight fish below the third place fish.
In the event of a tie, the time of weigh-in shall determine the winner (earliest fish wins).
The decisions of the ECD Officials on legality, time, and weight will be final and binding.
Participants cannot contest ECD Officials final decisions.
One Fish, One Prize Category Rule
- Each fish may be entered for consideration in only one prize category, and adults may only enter the Open category.
- Youth anglers (14 and under) are eligible to compete in the Open Category if their fish qualifies as one of the three largest fish overall.
- If a youth angler’s fish wins a prize in the Open Category, that same fish is not eligible to win or place in the Youth Category.
- If a youth’s fish qualifies for one of the top three spots in the Open category said fish will automatically be moved to the Open category and it will not and cannot be part of the Youth category. This is NOT optional. The youth does not need to declare their fish is for the Open category.
- No single fish may receive prizes in both the Open and Youth categories.
From time-to-time independent sponsors may provide cash or merchandise prizes awarded for specifically agreed upon criteria (by the Board of Directors and Sponsor). If a participant meets this criteria he or she may win this prize no matter if they have won any other ECD prize.
Youth are not eligible to win the Open Mystery Weight prize as they have their own mystery weight division.
At the discretion of the ECD judges financial prize-winning fish may be held for testing purposes. If contestant refuses to allow the fish to be tested he/she will be immediately disqualified.
Any violation of ECD rules or regulations shall be subject to disqualification at the discretion of the judges.
Cheating, Testing, and Cost Recovery: If a contestant is suspected of cheating, violating the ECD rules, or violating applicable Washington fishing laws or regulations, ECD officials may take reasonable steps to investigate the matter, including but not limited to inspection, verification, testing, consultation with qualified third parties, or referral to the appropriate authorities. If, after review, the contestant is determined by ECD officials to have cheated or otherwise violated ECD rules, the contestant may be disqualified, forfeit any prize or award, be banned from the ECD for life and may be referred to law enforcement or regulatory authorities. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by Washington law, the contestant shall be responsible for reimbursing the Club for the reasonable and documented costs directly incurred by the Club as a result of the investigation, verification, testing, third-party review, storage, shipping, or other necessary actions related to confirming the violation. This cost-recovery provision is intended to compensate the Club for actual expenses incurred and is not intended as a penalty. Contestants agree to this rule as a condition of entry.
Persons observing possible rules violations are required to submit a written statement to the judges no later than 3:00 p.m. on the day of the ECD. Statement must include your name, address, phone number and be signed.
Online ticket sales will begin on or around July 1st and will end at 5:00 am on the day of the ECD.
Hard copy paper ticket sales will begin on or around July 1st and will end in the afternoon the day before the ECD when an ECD official picks up the sold ticket stubs from the retailer. The time will vary from retailer to retailer.
All sales are final. There shall be no refunds for any reason. This is an all-weather derby. Participants are expected to use reasonable judgment and common sense with respect to weather and sea conditions.
Prize recipients are responsible for declaration and payment of any taxes that might be owed on a particular prize. Merchandise prizes shall have no cash value and shall not be eligible for exchange or credit from the donor thereof. All prizes shall be final at the time of award.
In the unlikely event the PSA Sno-King ticket sales do not exceed the breakeven threshold of 483 tickets, the ticket sale prize money will be prorated as follows: 34.5% to 1st place, 14% to 2nd place, 7% to 3rd place and 3.5% to the mystery fish.
Participants are responsible for ensuring their vessel is properly insured and meets all U.S. Coast Guard and Washington State boating requirements.

ECD officials’ decisions are final in all Edmonds Coho Derby matters.

Port of Edmonds is the ECD Headquarters

The 2026 Edmonds Coho Derby starts at dawn Saturday September 12th, 2026. The weigh-in runs until 2:00 p.m. sharp. Each ECD participant weighing a fish must be in line, with their fish to weigh it by 2:00 p.m. No one will be allowed in line after 2:00 p.m. No exceptions. Be sure to weigh in your fish early as we have had ties, and the tie breaker is the fish weighed in first. When you approach the scale, you must have your ticket stub to give the weigh master. Your fish will be weighed and logged into our computerized leader board system. The top 10 fish will be held on ice. We encourage you to retrieve your fish early if your fish drops out of the top 10. Prizes will be awarded to the ECD winners at approximately 3:30 pm, by the podium at the ceremony location. Contestants must be present to win.

Additional Information

Moorage and Parking

The Edmonds Marina guest moorage is very popular. See the Port of Edmonds Marina Office for details on what is available if you plan to put your boat in the water Friday night. We encourage you to take your boat out of the water when you are done fishing as there is always a big crowd in the guest moorage area at weigh in time. We have arranged with the Port to offer parking for derby participants who launch their boats at Edmonds to park in the large lot at the very north end of the marina. There are only a handful of spots in the parking lot adjacent to Derby Headquarters for trucks and boats on trailers. Normally the large fenced lot across the street from the North end of the marina is used for only trailer parking but only on derby day the Port of Edmonds will let you park in that lot with your boat on the trailer. There is limited parking on the streets in front of the marina. Do not park in any Port of Edmonds parking space with the yellow lines as those are clearly marked for Port of Edmonds tenants only. We have delayed this ceremony until 3:30 p.m. to allow all of our Everett weigh-in derby participants plenty of time to weigh in their fish at the Bayside weigh-in station and drive down to the Edmonds.

Everett Weigh-In Station at Bayside Marine

After you have your boat on your trailer either park and walk your fish up to the scale to be weighed or drive through as directed by derby officials. Plan accordingly as to not miss the 2:00 pm cutoff time.
Have your ticket stub ready to present to the weigh master.
If your fish is in the top 10 be sure to keep it on ice and take it to Edmonds
Please leave the area immediately after weighing in your fish so others can get in line.
If at all possible, please leave your boat & trailer at home before coming to the Edmonds Derby Headquarters as there is very limited parking at the Port of Edmonds. You will have 1 1/2 hours between weigh-in and prize presentation. You must be present at derby headquarters to win any and all prizes.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING FROM THE U.S. COAST GUARD:

Rule 10 – Traffic Separation Schemes

(a) This Rule applies to traffic separation schemes « adopted by the Organization » and does not relieve any vessel of her obligation under any other rule.

(b) A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall:

(i) Proceed in the appropriate traffic lane in the general direction of traffic flow for that lane.

(ii) So far as is practicable keep clear of a traffic separation line or separation zone.

(iii) Normally join or leave a traffic lane at the termination of the lane, but when joining or leaving from either side shall do so at as small an angle to the general direction of traffic flow as practicable.

(c) A vessel, shall so far as practicable, avoid crossing traffic lanes but it obliged to do so shall cross on a heading as nearly as practicable at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow.

(d)(i) A vessel shall not use an inshore traffic zone when she can safely use the appropriate traffic lane within the adjacent traffic separation scheme. However, vessels of less than 20 meters in length, sailing vessels and vessels engaged in fishing may use the inshore traffic zone.

(ii) Notwithstanding Rule 10(d)(i), a vessel may use an inshore traffic zone when en route to or from a port, offshore installation or structure, pilot station or any other place situated within the inshore traffic zone, or to avoid immediate danger.

(e) A vessel, other than a crossing vessel or a vessel joining or leaving a lane shall not normally enter a separation zone or cross a separation line except:

(i) In cases of emergency to avoid immediate danger.

(ii) To engage in fishing within a separation zone.

(f) A vessel navigating in areas near the terminations of traffic separation schemes shall do so with particular caution.

(g) A vessel shall so far as practicable avoid anchoring in a traffic separation scheme or in areas near its terminations.

(h) A vessel not using a traffic separating scheme shall avoid it by as wide a margin as is practicable.

(i) A vessel engaged in fishing shall not impede the passage of any vessel following a traffic lane.

(j) A vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the safe passage of a power-driven vessel following a traffic lane.

(k) A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver when engaged in an operation for the maintenance of safety of navigation in a traffic separation scheme is exempted from complying with this Rule to the extent necessary to carry out the operation.

(I) A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver when engaged in an operation for the laying, servicing or picking up of a submarine cable, within a traffic separation scheme, is exempted from complying with this Rule to the extent necessary to carry out the operation.

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