You don’t always need a boat to fish for salmon, and you can learn more about how to do just that at the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s free intro to coho fishing seminar in the Westport Marina Oct. 5.

According to Fish and Wildlife, the event will teach the basics of shore fishing for coho salmon. No experience is necessary to participate, all ages are welcome, and bait will be provided.

The event comes in the middle of the annual Vern Coleman Westport Boat Basin Salmon Derby, where anglers can vie for prizes for coho caught in the boat basin through the end of October.

For the coho basics seminar, Fish and Wildlife officials said participants should bring:

• A fishing license (Fish WA, combination or saltwater)

• Salmon catch record card (ask for this when purchasing license)

• Fishing rod and reel (8- to 10-foot medium action rod and spinning reel)

• 15-20-pound test monofilament or equivalent braided fishing line

• Cooler or fish bag to transport fish

• Salmon net (optional)

Children ages 14 and under are not required to purchase a fishing license. However, they must obtain a salmon catch record card.

To participate, register for free online, or find the event listing on Facebook and follow the provided eventbrite link to register.

Boat basin tournament

The free tournament started, if somewhat slowly, Sept. 15. It continues through 5 p.m. Oct. 31.

“It’s off to a slow start,” said Mike Coverdale. “There are a few fish milling around but none have been weighed in at Seafood Connection. I know some have been caught, mostly in the 5- to 8-pound range and there are a fair number of people trying, with limited success.”

Mike Coverdale is the son of the derby’s namesake, Vern Coverdale. The elder Coverdale was a steady participant in this unique fishery until his death in October 2012 at the age of 75. The tournament was named in his honor the following season.

Prizes are provided by local businesses and vary from season to season.

Coho are reared in boat basin pens and released every May. The fish return to the Westport Marina in the fall. Fish to 15 pounds have been recorded in the derby, and the fishery itself is open through Jan. 31. The limit is six fish daily with a 12-inch minimum size restriction, no more than four adults may be retained. Chinook must be released, and fishing is restricted to daylight fishing with single-point barbless hooks.

Boat Basin Derby rules

• All fishing is to be done within the boundary of the Westport Marina.

• Appropriate license required and regulation fishing tackle & methods.

• No derby ticket required.

• Fish can be weighed in at Seafood Connection on Float 8 Slip G between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

• Fish are to be weighed in whole and are magnet tested.

• No fish are to be cleaned while at the marina.

• Prizes will be awarded based on weight using length for a tie breaker.

• Prizes will be awarded for top three fish in the adult category and top three fish in the childrens category. One prize per angler. Additional prizes will be awarded as available.

• Top prize winners in both categories will have their names placed on the Boat Basin Derby trophy.

• Winners will be announced Nov. 1.