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One of the oldest communities in Alaska, Seward is also home to one of the oldest derbies in Alaska.

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The chance to outfish other sportfishers and win thousands of dollars draws quite a crowd to Seward every summer. At a price of just $11 a ticket, it's worth the chance at a $50,000 tagged fish, $10,000 for the biggest silver or any of the many other prizes that total up to $100,000. The nine-day contest runs in mid-August, right at the beginning of the enormous run of thousands of silver salmon.

Greg Beiser, 42, of Kenai has been fishing for 10 to 12 years and is a frequent silver fisher in Seward. He typically uses the "mooching" technique. Mooching involves using a piece of cut herring with a two-ounce weight and a 36-inch leader and dropping it over the side, letting it hit bottom. While you're drifting, reel up about six reels and lift it up, and let it sit back down. The fish will bite if you have your line at the proper depth, and then the fight is on. Beiser recommends paying close attention to the fish finder, marking your fish and making sure your line is at the proper depth.

"Look for birds feeding," Beiser said. "That's what we do more than anything. It's a good hint."

The catch limit for silver salmon is six fish per person inside Resurrection Bay and three fish each outside the bay.

Although the derby runs for nine days in mid-August, the silver run lasts well through September. Silvers aren't the only fish targeted in the salty waters of Seward, however. Charters also fish for halibut, rockfish, ling cod and even shark.

The daily bag limit for sharks is one fish of any species, and the annual limit is two sharks, which includes spiny dogfish and salmon and sleeper sharks, although sleeper sharks are inedible and should be released. All harvested sharks must be recorded immediately upon capture on your license or harvest record, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Something to keep in mind about sharks is that they have a high urea content and are inedible unless handled properly. They need to be bled immediately.

Combined with the spectacular sightseeing that's unavoidable with any charter trip into the bay, there really isn't a better way to fish in Alaska, especially for first-timers. Many of the charters will take you along the coast of Resurrection Bay and in the perfect spot to see the glaciers, waterfalls and abundant wildlife. Whales, porpoises, sea lions, seals and more Alaska animals are known to frequent the area. While you are wrestling in your trophy silver, you can take in the famous, breathtaking scenery.

There are specific spots that regulars have particular luck fishing at. Beiser heads to Sunny Cove, Pony Cove and Thumb Cove. The Kenai resident prefers Seward fishing over Kenai king fishing, which he says is "insane, but fun." There's nothing like Kenai River combat fishing in Seward.

"During the derby it's really competitive," Beiser said. "There are a lot of people around late July, early August, but there's plenty of room out there."

You don't just have to hire a charter, however. You can take your own boat out or rent one locally. If you can't get your hands on a seaworthy boat, toward the end of the summer you can also fish for silvers from shore closer to town and for Dolly Varden earlier in the summer.

At the south end of Seward, Lowell Creek has a run of king salmon and silvers from late June into the end of July or beginning of August and is perfect for shore anglers. Since these runs come from hatcheries, snagging is allowed for maximum harvest, but many anglers have just as much luck using lures. Almost anything flashy will work for silvers. Spring Creek is less crowded than Lowell Creek and contains silver, pinks, chum, reds and Dolly Varden. Some other favorite shore spots are the Seward Lagoon outfall culverts and Fourth of July Creek. Fishing the beach can be as much fun as fishing in the bay.

Freelance writer Naomi Hagelund lives in Soldotna.