Roman Jaques’ king salmon catch won the first hidden-weight weekend of Wrangell’s fishing derby, winning a cash prize of $300 in the chamber of commerce-sponsored event.

The winner of the prize for halibut was undetermined as of Monday, chamber officials said.

The next chance for anglers to win a prize for coming closest to a secret weight will be July 5.

There also will be special weekends for coho and halibut Aug. 8-9 (during Bearfest), and Labor Day weekend Sept. 5-7.

The chamber is trying something new this year, designating one weekend each in June, July, August and September to award prizes for the salmon and halibut that come closest to a secret weight set by a computer program, rather than for the largest catches.

The chamber hopes the chance that every fish could be a winner will drive more interest in the annual derby.

Jaques, visiting from Nevada, brought in a 22.3-pound king over the past weekend, coming closest to the hidden weight of 21.72 pounds, said Lora Lee Mason, the chamber’s executive director.

The hidden weight for a halibut catch was 78 pounds. Jason Beaty’s 8.1-pound halibut was the closest of only two halibut turned in over the weekend, Mason said. The chamber website, however, says it takes at least a 10-pounder to win the prize.

The derby, which started June 7, will run through Sept. 7, with a $1,000 cash prize each for the largest king, coho and halibut turned in over the three months.

Leaders as of Monday were Greg Clark, with a 42.8-pound halibut, and Jaques for his 22.3-pound king, Mason said.

Contestants have turned in about eight or nine kings, with just a few halibut brought to the weigh station, she said.

Derby tickets, at $35 each, are available at Angerman’s, TK’s Mini Mart, the Stikine Inn, Sentry Hardware, Alaska Vistas and the chamber office in the Nolan Center.

The weekday weigh-in station is at Peninsula Seafoods at the Marine Service Center.

Boaters who bring in catches evenings and weekends can go to a weigh-in station at Reliance Harbor, across from the harbormaster’s office, or call ahead to arrange a weigh-in at 907-874-3901, 907-305-0552 or 907-305-0553.