DOVER – Sunny summer weather greeted 173 young anglers and their families who gathered Saturday, June 4 at three Delaware ponds for DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 30th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament. All fish caught in the tournament were weighed and released, as young anglers got a first-hand lesson in conservation.

The New Castle County location, Lums Pond in Bear, drew 86 children and young teens casting lines, while at Kent County’s Wyoming Pond, 36 youngsters turned out. Sussex County reeled in 51 young anglers at Ingrams Pond near Millsboro. Fish species caught included catfish, white perch, yellow perch, largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, carp, golden shiner and pumpkinseed.

When the day was done, 12-year-old Ethan Wong of Frederica came out as overall statewide winner, as well as the Kent County winner, with fish weighing in at a total of 3.99 pounds.

The biggest fish of the day were caught by: Brandon Feaster, age 15, of Camden, 2.7-pound largemouth bass, Wyoming Pond; Brielle Weirzbicki, age 10, of Bear, 2-pound largemouth bass, Lums Pond; and Zachary Hicks, age 11, of Greenwood, 0.71-pound eel, Ingrams Pond. Also, Elise Britton, age 12, of Middletown, last year’s New Castle County winner, caught a 5-pound turtle in Lums Pond.

The smallest fish of the day were caught by: Camrin Croney, age 10, of Ocean View, 0.01-pound bluegill; and Jordan Brown, age 13, of Delmar, 0.029-pound bluegill.

This year’s county winners and the overall statewide winner will be invited to a special trophy presentation by Delaware Governor Jack Markell on Governor’s Day, Thursday, July 28 at the 2016 Delaware State Fair in Harrington.

New Castle County winners

At Lums Pond in New Castle County, Onna Crowley, age 7, of Middletown, was the day’s overall winner with a total of 3.66 pounds of fish. Other New Castle County winners, by age group and total weight of fish caught, were:

Ages 4 through 7

• First place – Russell Reed, age 7, of Middletown, 2.16 pounds
• Second place – Terrence Oldaker, age 6, of Newark, 1.26 pounds
• Third place – Reagan Donaldson, age 7, of Middletown, 1 pound

Ages 8 through 11

• First place – Jason Oldaker, age 8, of Newark, 3.19 pounds
• Second place – Drake Crowley, age 11, of Middletown, 2.24 pounds
• Third place – Sharrell Corbin, age 8, of Middletown, 2.23 pounds

Ages 12 through 15

• First place – Elise Britton, age 12, of Middletown, 1.49 pounds
• Second place – Morgan Roman, age 14, of Bear, 1.12 pounds
• Third place – Lauren Pollock, age 13, of Middletown, 1.01 pounds

Kent County winners

In addition to Kent County and statewide winner Ethan Wong, other Kent County winners at Wyoming Pond, by age group and total weight of fish caught, were:

Ages 4 through 7

• First place – Phoebe Wong, age 6, of Frederica, 2.55 pounds
• Second place – Carly Clevens, age 5, of Wilmington, 1.5 pounds
• Third place – Gianna Vlasquez, age 6, of Clayton, 1.38 pounds

Ages 8 through 11

• First place – Sean Deshanes, age 10, of Camden, 2.11 pounds
• Second place – Trevor Wong, age 10, of Frederica, 1.97 pounds
• Third place – Julian Quinonez, age 8, of Dover, 1.82 pounds

Ages 12 through 15

• First place – Brandon Feaster, age 15, of Camden, 3.97 pounds
• Second place – Jordan Brown, age 13, of Delmar, 2.94 pounds
• Third place – Seth Deshanes, age 13, of Camden, 2.58 pounds

Sussex County winners

At Ingrams Pond in Sussex County, Luke Hitchens, age 9, of Dagsboro, was the day’s overall winner with a total of 3 pounds of fish. Other Sussex County winners, by age group and total weight of fish caught, were:

Ages 4 through 7

• First place – John Timmons V, age 4, of Georgetown, 2.86 pounds
• Second place – Kylie Henry, age 6, of Chadds Ford, Pa., 1.55 pounds
• Third place – Emmeliz Vargas, age 7, of Milford, 1.11 pounds

Ages 8 through 11

• First place – Andrew Wertz, age 9, of Lewes, 2.12 pounds
• Second place – Zachary Hicks, age 11, of Greenwood, 1.69 pounds
• Third place – Camrin Croney, age 10, of Ocean View, 1.49 pounds

Ages 12 through 15

• First place – Gage Waite, age 13, of Seaford, 1.36 pounds
• Second place – Tyler Karr, age 14, of Georgetown, 1.03 pounds
• Third place – no entrants

The winners received fishing rods and tackle boxes as well as trophies, and all participants received prizes. This year’s donors and supporters included: Almars Outboards, Cabela’s, Reynolds Auto Collision and Captain Bones Bait, Tackle & Hunting, New Castle County; Camden Walmart, Williamsville Country Store, American Legion Walter L. Fox Post No. 2, Route 10 Subway and Joel Blessing, Kent County; and Georgetown Walmart, Millsboro Food Lion, Long Neck Harris Teeter, Jungle Jim’s, Funland, Lewes Harbour Marina, Lingo Marine, Millsboro Dairy Queen, Short’s Marine, Rick’s Bait & Tackle, B&E Tire and Auto, Megee Motors, Chick-Fil-A, Dewey Beach Lions Club, Suburban Propane, Millsboro McDonald’s, Millsboro Giant Food, Old Inlet Bait & Tackle and White Water Mountain, Sussex County.

The Youth Fishing Tournament was established to introduce youth to the sport of fishing and to teach the catch-and-release approach to conservation. The free tournament, held annually in June, is open to youth ages 4 through 15. For more information on the Youth Fishing Tournament, please call 302-739-9913 or visit Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Delaware Youth Fishing Tournament webpage.

This program is part of Delaware’s Children in Nature Initiative, a statewide effort to improve environmental literacy in Delaware, create opportunities for children to participate in enriching outdoor experiences, combat childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles. Delaware’s multi-agency initiative, which partners state and federal agencies with community organizations, is part of the national No Child Left Inside program.

Media

Vol. 46, No. 220

Print