Iqaluit fishers bring in more than 2,000 cod at long weekend derby
Prizes in multiple categories and draw for volunteers handed out on Monday
Iqaluit Mayor Solomon Awa, centre, brings in the longest cod brought in by an elder which came with a return airfare prize from Canadian North. (Photo courtesy of P.J. Akeeagok)
This story was updated on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 9 a.m. ET.
Koojesse Inlet west of Iqaluit was buzzing with activity over the Victoria Day weekend as fishers took to the sea ice for the 2026 Iqaluit Cod Derby.
Vying for more than two dozen prizes in five categories, jiggers lowered their lures with the hopes of pulling up the longest cod.
Tommy Nauyuk won the $10,000 top prize for his 40.8-cm catch.
In the under 16 category, Ethan Tiglik reeled in the first-place prize of $1,000 as well as the second-place prize of a $750 and a gift card to Asian Kitchen.
Iqaluit Mayor Solomon Awa pulled up the longest cod caught by an elder, and his reward was a Canadian North return ticket.
The elder’s category also featured a $1,000 draw for anyone 60 years old and up who caught a cod over the weekend, which Atsanak Price won.
There was a $500 “mystery” contest as well for those who caught a specific size of cod. The first, for an 18.5-cm catch, was picked for the derby’s date of May 18. The second, a 20.2-cm cod, was for the year 2026. Moe Baines and Susie Baines won these contests respectively.
The final category was a $500 draw eligible for everyone who caught a sculpin, or “kanajuq” in Inuktitut. Gordon Campbell won the draw.
Between 800 and 1,000 people took part in the derby and caught a total of 2,095 cod, organizers said on the event’s Facebook page. That’s three times the number of cod measured in any previous year.
Organizer Andrea Andersen said she was not available to comment by press time.
Clarification: This story was updated to clarify that Nunatsiaq News did not receive a comment from organizers by press time.
I hope the fish was used to feed people and not wasted.
From the Cod Derby FB group:
The fish caught over the weekend has been shared in many ways throughout the community. Volunteers have delivered to Elders facility and to over 20 families of both Kanayuk & Uugaq. One tub was kept for a youth science camp, and three tubs were given to help feed dog teams.
This looks like a ton of fun! re: reporting policies… perhaps consider a ‘Nunatsiaq News’ policy of publishing the local Inuktitut names of all aminals and plants for the benefit of newcomers and non-beneficiaries along with the English/French species names? (You should have someone on staff who can help with the Inuktitut names.) If you cite “locally named ____________” or “called _________ here” then people from other regions won’t feel slighted?
Use beer instead of water for the batter. Excellent taste.
There you go. Good addition to food for the week. No need to social categorize it good or bad, poor people or not. It is a worth millions every week and is a winner at fish and chips bar