Tengu Blackmouth Derby kicks off next Sunday

The Tengu Blackmouth Derby in Elliott Bay, the longest-running derby in Puget Sound, begins next Sunday.

For 62 years, salmon anglers who participate in this derby are faced with myriad obstacles including bitter cold, high winds and rain or snow.

To further challenge participants only blackmouth [resident chinook] are eligible, fishing is limited to the bay where legal-size chinook [22 inches or longer] are sometimes scarce and only mooching [drift-fishing using only a banana-lead weight tied to a leader with a herring] is allowed.

Many say the term "mooching" was created by Japanese-American immigrants between the 1920s and '30s in Elliott Bay.

The derby itself was started by Japanese-Americans before World War II at the old Harbor Island Boathouse in West Seattle, and has been ongoing since 1946.

The derby was named after Tengu, a fabled Japanese character known for not telling the truth. Like the American classic Pinocchio, Tengu's nose grew with every lie he told.

Last year, 68 anglers participated in the derby and managed to catch 35 blackmouth and four chum. The largest was 15 pounds, 5 ounces caught by Marcus Nitta.

Of those 68 anglers, 24 of them caught all the salmon last season. That was also 64 less blackmouth than was caught in 2007, and it was the eighth-lowest total of the past 64 derbies.

Since 1946, the largest blackmouth caught in the derby's history was by Tom Osaki in November 1958, which weighed 25 pounds, 3 ounces. The most blackmouth caught in an entire season was 234 in 1979.

Derby rules are all fish must be caught with the boundary line of Alki Point to Fourmile Rock, and no artificial lures, flashers, hoochies [plastic squids] and downriggers are allowed.

The Tengu Derby is held every Sunday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. from Oct. 25 to Dec. 27 at the Seacrest Boathouse in West Seattle. The fee is $15 and $5 for kids 12 and under. Boat rentals are available.

Purchase tickets at the Seacrest Boathouse, Linc's Tackle Shop, Auburn Sports and Marine, Sportco and Outdoor Emporium.

World Fishing Network to air on Comcast

The World Fishing Network, the only 24-hour fishing channel, has announced an agreement with Comcast and will soon air on both standard and high-definition channels.

"We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Comcast and we look forward to launching WFN in Comcast markets around the country," said Mark Rubinstein, president & CEO of WFN. "By offering WFN to Comcast customers, our hope is to bring the content that 60 million anglers are passionate about directly to their living rooms."

WFN offers more than 1,000 hours of original programming each year dedicated to fishing and the fishing lifestyle.

WFN features popular programs such as Hookin' Up with Mariko Izumi, who recently filmed an episode in Seattle that will air in 2010. WFN launched its network in 2005 and is available in more than 20 million households throughout North America.

Notes

• The Mount Tahoma Trails Association is working on rebuilding its popular Snow Bowl Hut, which was destroyed by fire on March 21, 2008. The group's Fall Gala is 2-6 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Seattle REI Store. Cost is $10, and guests can purchase multiple tickets for the hut reservation lottery. Proceeds will go toward the building of a new snow hut. Donations for the silent auction are also welcome. Details: www.skimtta.com.

• Don Simonson, a member of the Federation of Fly Fishers Casting Board of Governors, will be on hand to analyze your fly casts 1-4 p.m. today at the Orvis Store at 10223 N.E. 10th St. in Bellevue. Details: 425-452-9138.

• Cape Disappointment State Park and the Columbia River Maritime Museum are celebrating the Graveyard of the Pacific Weekend Oct. 24-25 at Cape Disappointment State Park and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Details: 503-325-2323 or www.crmm.org.

• The new nonprofit Cascade Musky Association is looking for members. Cost is $25 or $35 for a couple/family membership. Details: www.cascademuskyassociation.com or www.wafish.com.

• The Washington Fly Fishing Club meeting is 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at the Seattle Tennis Club. Please RSVP to attend meetings. Details: www.WFFC.com.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com