Nearly 200 people participated in the Port of Coquille’s first bass derby last weekend, reeling in more than 2,000 small-mouth bass. The catch put a welcome dent in the population of the salmon-gobbling invasive predators.

Six of those captured bass carried microchips that paid off with $50, $100 and $200 cash prizes. That leaves 40 chip-tagged bass still swimming, including one with a $1,000 chip.

Derby organizer Fred Fry said the bounty is good until Labor Day weekend, when a second bass derby is planned. Anglers who catch bass in the meantime should freeze them and bring them to the second derby on September 3 and 4 to be scanned for prizewinning chips.

The port organized the derbies with help from the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and several generous sponsors. Reducing bass numbers is one of several strategies to help restore the river’s diminishing stock of fall Chinook salmon.

Admission to the derby is $20. More information is available on the port’s website, www.thepocrd.com.