World Photo by Alex Powers Weighmaster Vickie Rutledge measures fish caught by teams during the Oregon Tuna Classic Saturday in Charleston. Competition organizers donated the top five fish from each team to South Coast Food Share. Top-scoring teams won cash prizes, which were donated back to the classic.

One fish, two fish. No, 3,886 pounds of fish.

That’s how much albacore tuna competitors donated to the South Coast Food Share, following the first-ever Charleston leg of the Oregon Tuna Classic sport fishing derby Saturday.

The Tuna Classic began four years ago as a fundraising event in Garibaldi. A few teams of anglers raced for the biggest albacore, and the proceeds — fish and money — went to the Oregon Food Bank.

Today, the event has expanded to include four communities — Garibaldi, Newport/Depoe Bay, Hammond and Charleston, each drawing as many as 50 or more teams.

Organizers are calling Saturday’s event an unparalleled success.

“This event was probably one of the biggest that we’ve had,” said derby chairman Del Stephens.

In all, 53 boats raced for spots offshore of Coos Bay, starting over the bar shortly after 6 a.m. Within hours, many of the teams were hovering over the tuna.

Team Tailchaser, a local group, managed to land a 36.25-inch fish, but just barely.

“The big fish almost got away — classic tail there,” Tailchaser team member and Charleston organizer Jim Pex said. “We got lucky.”

Teams were back in port to weigh in around 2 p.m. In all, 33 teams caught one or more fish, and cash prizes were awarded to the top three.

Teams G. Loomis and Bad to the Bone, both of Garibaldi, won first- and second-place prizes of $3,000 and $2,000, with a third place prize of $1,000 going to team Grand Slam of Seattle.

Organizers scored the top five fish from each catch, then the trophies were handed over to charity — put on ice — so Chuck’s Seafood could can the tuna for use by the South Coast Food Share.

The cash prizes were donated back, too.

“That’s what this is all about,” Stephens said. “Even though it’s a competition, the main focus is the food bank.”

Pex took the enthusiasm as a good sign.

“Everybody was so excited about it this year, by the facilities and by the port. I don’t see any problem with it coming back next year,” he said. “We just hope to make this bigger and better each year.”

Stephens is optimistic about growth as well. He stated that the tournament is in the process of adding a location in Westport, Wash., but has basically secured the existing ports for next year’s derby.

“It looks like we’ll easily be coming back to Charleston,” Stephens said.