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Event on Aug. 22 celebrates 150 years of the Gig Harbor fishing fleet
Not long after a milestone for the future of the Gig Harbor commercial fishing fleet, the community will gather to honor its past.
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The Skansie Netshed Foundation hosts “Fishermen Feed the World,” a celebration of 150 years of the Gig Harbor fishing fleet, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at Skansie Brothers Park.
The celebration happens less than two weeks after the city of Gig Harbor awarded a construction bid for the Commercial Fishing Homeport, which will rise this winter at Ancich Park. The city has been working toward the homeport since 2012 — or nearly 10% of the 150-year commercial fishing history being celebrated Saturday.
What better time for a party?
“The fishing industry has played an important role in the history of forming Gig Harbor,” Skansie Netshed Foundation President Jim Franich said. “We just want to make the public aware that there still is a commercial fishing industry still existing right now.”
The Gig Harbor commercial fishing fleet during the 2026 Blessing of the Fleet ceremony. Photo by Julie Warrick Ammann
Fishing fun
The celebration will include fishing displays, net-mending demonstrations and the opportunity to meet local fishermen past and present.
Organizers plan fishing-themed kids activities and games. A variety of food options will be on hand, including a clam chowder booth, salmon burgers and hot dogs from the Kiwanis Club, and traditional Croatian food through the Slav Hall in Tacoma.
Skansie Netshed Foundation Vice President Erin Babich said the organization tries to organize a major community event every year. In 2025, it staged Croatia Day to recognize the heritage of many of the town’s early European settlers and to celebrate the re-opening of the restored Skansie Netshed.
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“Our commercial fishing fleet is over 150 years old,” Babich said, “so we just thought it’s kind of time to sort of showcase that, highlight that. Fishermen feed the world!”
The Gig Harbor Boat Shop’s Veteran will tie up at the Skansie Park dock for the festival. Gig Harbor’s Skansie Shipbuilding launched the purse seiner in 1926.
Fishing fleet largely still in Alaska
Somewhat ironically, the Veteran will be one of the few commercial fishing boats in the harbor on Saturday.
“Our fishermen are still out feeding the world,” Babich said. “That’s kind of the funny part of it. We’ll have some fishermen, most of them are out in Alaska fishing. It started out slow but it’s going well now.
“That’s the life of a fisherman. You never know when they’re coming or going.”