BANDON — When you throw your crab pot over the dock at Bandon, don’t be surprised if you pull up a crab appearing to be wearing jewelry. No, it’s not a covert spying device, either, attached to crustacean’s leg. It’s a tag notifying you that you might just win a cash award in the 2008 Bandon Crab Derby.

“The more tagged crabs you catch and bring to us, the better your chances are to win a prize. Anyone can participate and there is no entrance fee,” said Dave Schradieck.

Schradieck, with his wife Eileen, started the Crab Derby last summer. This year, they tagged and released more than 120 Dungeness crab with attached numbered brass tags into the Coquille River near the public docks in Old Town Bandon.

People who catch these tagged crabs must bring them to Tony’s Crab Shack on the First Street to be verified, then the brass tag is collected to be used in the drawings. There will be four drawings, to be held on July 12 and 26 and Aug. 9 and 23, each worth $100, and two drawings on Aug. 31. The first drawing is for $1,000 dollars if the winner is present and $750 if they are not present. The second drawing is for $300 if the winner is present and $150 if they are not.

You must be present to win, except on Aug. 31, the final day of the event. Three tags will be drawn and if there is no winner, the money will be put into an extra drawing on Aug. 31.

“We also have other great prizes like a charter fishing trip on the Prowler Charters, jet boat rides and crabbing gear in addition to all the cash that will be awarded at some of these drawings,” Schradieck said.

The Schradiecks, who owned a vacation rental business, created the Bandon Crab Derby to see more fun events in Bandon for locals and tourists alike and at the same time help promote a healthy business atmosphere.

“We feel if that having more fun events in town will bring more people to Bandon,” he said.

For more information, rules and regulations and links, visit http://www.BandonCrabDerby.com