DOVER – A Saturday morning mix of clouds and sun and good luck wishes greeted 155 young anglers and their families who gathered Saturday, June 3 at three Delaware ponds for DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 31st 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 82 children and young teens casting lines, while at Kent County’s Akridge Scout Reservation pond near Camden, 26 youngsters turned out. Sussex County reeled in 47 young anglers at Ingrams Pond near Millsboro.

When the day was done, 13-year-old Elise Britton of Middletown came out as overall statewide winner, as well as the New Castle County winner, with fish weighing in at a total of 25.22 pounds, including an 8.6-pound carp, the largest fish caught in this year’s tournament. The smallest fish of the day were caught by: 9-year-old Jonathan Pollock, 0.02-pound bluegill in Lums Pond; and 7-year-old Phoebe Wong of Frederica, 0.026-pound largemouth bass in Akridge Scout Reservation’s pond. Also, William Medford, age 13, of Wilmington, caught a 7.9-pound turtle in Lums Pond.

This year’s county winners and the overall statewide winner will be invited to a special trophy presentation by Delaware Governor John Carney on Governor’s Day, Thursday, July 27 at the 2017 Delaware State Fair in Harrington.

New Castle County winners

Other New Castle County winners at Lums Pond, by age group and total weight of fish caught, were:

Ages 4 through 7

• First place – Liesabet Barker, age 4, of Townsend, 2.69 pounds
• Second place – Mackenzie Healey, age 4, of Middletown, 1.53 pounds
• Third place – Landon Gonzalez, age 7, of New Castle, 1.48 pounds

Ages 8 through 11

• First place – Jonathan Pollock, age 9, of Middletown, 3.96 pounds
• Second place – Leland Barker, age 9, of Townsend, 2.66 pounds
• Third place – Evan Wooters, age 10, of Newark, 2.23 pounds

Ages 12 through 15

• First place – Elise Britton, age 13, of Middletown, 25.22 pounds
• Second place – Kody Edwards, age 15, of Wilmington, 3.36 pounds
• Third place – Lauren Pollock, age 14, of Middletown, 3.17 pounds

Kent County winners

At Akridge Scout Reservation, Dominic Garcia, 12, of Smyrna, was the day’s overall winner with a total of 10.33 pounds of fish. Other Kent County winners by age group and total weight of fish were:

Ages 4 through 7

• First place – Carly Clevens, age 6, of Wilmington, 3.65 pounds
• Second place – Brandon Driggins, age 7, of Dover, 2.45 pounds
• Third place – Cole Smith, age 6, of Magnolia, 1.55 pounds

Ages 8 through 11

• First place – Christian Driggins, age 10, of Dover, 4.47 pounds
• Second place – Trevor Wong, age 10, of Frederica, 2.78 pounds
• Third place – Ava Ruggerio, age 9, of Camden, 2.54 pounds

Ages 12 through 15

• First place – Seth Reynolds, age 13, of Milford, 6.28 pounds
• Second place – Peyton Timmons, age 12, of Dover, 5.87 pounds
• Third place – MJ Greco, age 12, of Dover, 4.42 pounds

Sussex County winners

At Ingrams Pond in Sussex County, John Timmons V, age 5, of Georgetown, was the day’s overall winner with a total of 4.19 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 5, of Georgetown, 4.19 pounds
• Second place – Brayden Stewart, age 4, of Georgetown, 2.21 pounds
• Third place – Maddison Culey, age 6, of Laurel, 1.58 pounds

Ages 8 through 11

• First place – Landon Elliott, age 9, of Millsboro, 2.38 pounds
• Second place – Camrin Croney, age 11, of Ocean View, 1.74 pounds
• Third place – Luke Hitchens, age 10, of Dagsboro, 1.39 pounds

Ages 12 through 15

• First place – Dillon Polly, age 12, of Laurel, 1.54 pounds
• Second place – Zachary Vannicola, age 12, of Greenwood, 0.88 pounds
• Third place – Matthew Stangl, age 14, of Bethel, 0.64 pounds

The winners received trophies and prizes, 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, Betts Garage and Scotty Lee, New Castle County; Cabela’s, Dover Walmart, Dover Dick’s Sporting Goods, Dover Safeway, Williamsville Country Store and Route 10 Subway, Kent County; and Dewey Beach Lions Club, Jungle Jim’s, Lewes Harbour Marina, Lingo Marine, Short’s Marine, Rick’s Bait & Tackle, Hook ’em & Cook ’em, Millsboro McDonald’s, 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 Youth Fishing Tournament.

Media Contacts: Lt. John McDerby, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 47, No. 134

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