Skagway fish derby: luring residents to grab a pole.

• Author: Pounds, Nancy
• Position: Alaska This Month

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A small fishing derby unites Skagway residents during the busy "make-hay-while-the sun-shines" summer visitor season. This year's Par Moore Memorial Game Fish Derby is July 14 through July 17 in the Southeast community.

The historic Gold Rush town's population of about 800 skyrockets in summer when hundreds of cruise ship passengers tour downtown's Gold Rush era buildings. The fishing derby is a fundraiser for the Taiva Inlet Watershed Council, which organizes the event. Earlier fishing derbies raised money to support the watershed council. Funds collected now support scholarships for graduating high school students who plan to study marine biology or environmental sciences. Also, organizers believe the event spotlights the region's coastal richness.

"We have such a good salmon run here that we wanted to use it to encourage sport fishing," said Dimitra Lavrakas, derby coordinator and vice president of the Taiya Inlet Watershed Council board.

The derby draws Skagway residents to the port area, which is separate from the downtown area.

"It draws attention to the fact we ate a coastal town," Lavrakas said. "It's a way to encourage people to use the port more and encourage fishing."

A city-built trail along the shore is a popular corridor linking downtown with the harbor.

The fishing derby honors Moore, who died from complications of Lou Gehrig's disease. He was an enthusiastic fisherman who supported a now-shelved hatchery the council aims to revive, Lavrakas said.

Skagway residents, business owners, city officials, the Skagway Traditional Council and the National Park Service created the watershed council in 2002. The nonprofit council's goal is to improve conditions around...