By SUZANNE DOWNING
May 20, 2026 – The Armed Services YMCA of Alaska marked a major milestone Wednesday as it hosted the 20th annual Combat Fishing Tournament in Seward, bringing together nearly 200 junior enlisted military personnel from across Alaska for a day on the waters of Resurrection Bay.
Founded in 2007, the tournament has grown into the largest military appreciation fishing tournament in the nation, offering service members what organizers describe as a uniquely Alaskan experience: a full day of deep-sea fishing aboard donated charter boats, followed by a community banquet and awards ceremony.
Under typical May conditions for Seward, participants launched before dawn into cool, gray coastal weather with temperatures in the upper 40s to low 50s, light rain showers, and low clouds hanging over Resurrection Bay … classic Southcentral Alaska fishing conditions. Boats departed the harbor at 5:30 am and returned early in the afternoon for the traditional fish weigh-in.
Service members kept every fish they caught, with fish processing donated free of charge.
“This tournament is our way to say ‘thank you’ to our service members by providing them with a truly Alaskan experience,” said Sarah Riffer, CEO of the ASYMCA of Alaska. “It’s a chance for our service members to step away from daily demands and connect with service members from across the state.
“I’m in awe that this is the 20th year we’re hosting the tournament,” she said. “So many people band together to make this event possible, and we’re humbled by their support of Alaska service members.”
This year’s event also featured a special guest: Suzanne McCormick, national president and CEO of the YMCA of the USA. McCormick, who grew up in a military family and is the mother of an Army veteran, traveled to Seward to help celebrate the tournament’s 20th anniversary, a milestone that coincides with the YMCA’s 175th anniversary in the United States.
“The ASYMCA of Alaska’s Combat Fishing Tournament honors the Y’s legacy of serving others and strengthening community,” McCormick said. “By welcoming junior service members to their new community, helping them develop a sense of belonging, and offering support and gratitude for their service, this event truly captures what the Y is about.”
Since its inception, the tournament has taken thousands of military personnel onto the waters of Resurrection Bay. The event was started in 2007 by Seward charter captain Bob Candopoulos and Alaska business owner Keith Manternach (Specialty Truck and Auto of Anchorage).
A large network of Seward charter operators donates boats, crews, and time each year to make the event possible. Volunteer charter fleets participating this year included Alaska Northern, Alaska Saltwater, Alaska Saltwater Fishing, Alaska Dream Charters, Aurora Charters, Current Affairs, Fish House, Fish Seward AK, J-Dock, Miller’s Landing, Pro Fish N’ Sea, Puffin Charters, and Saltwater Safari.
For many of the junior enlisted participants stationed far from home, the day on the water offered more than fishing; it provided camaraderie, a break from military routine, and a chance to experience one of Alaska’s signature traditions.
