Contact: Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife announces results
from 25th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament

DOVER (June 28, 2011) Bright sunshine and steamy hot temperatures greeted 207 young anglers and their families who gathered at three Delaware ponds for the 25th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament on June 11. All of the fish caught in the tournament were weighed and released.

The New Castle County location, Lums Pond in Bear, drew 95 children and teens casting lines, while at Kent County’s Wyoming Pond, 60 youngsters turned out. Sussex County reeled in 52 young anglers at Ingrams Pond in Millsboro.

When the day was done, 14-year-old Dustin Waller of Georgetown came out as overall statewide winner, as well as the Sussex County winner, with fish weighing in at a total of 4.25 pounds. The biggest fish of the day, a largemouth bass weighing 3.17 pounds, was caught in Kent County by 14-year-old Ronald Degano of Magnolia, who also took first place in his age group.

The overall winner for New Castle County was 12-year-old Emma Griffith of Middletown with 2.81 pounds of fish. Jesse Stoner, age 11, of Middletown, caught a turtle weighing 2.63 pounds. Other New Castle County winners, by age group and total weight of fish caught, were:

Ages 4 to 7
 First place – Brandon Wiley, age 4, of West Chester, Pa., 2.33 pounds
 Second place – Owen Grossi, age 7, of Wilmington, 1.52 pounds
 Third place – Sawyer Wilkins, age 4, of Newark, 0.39 pounds

Ages 8 to 11
 First place – Tom Harach, age 9, of Landenberg, Pa., 2.15 pounds
 Second place – Lena Grossi, age 10, of Wilmington, 1.00 pounds
 Third place – Carter Wilkins, age 9, of Newark, 0.89 pounds

Ages 12 to 15
 First place – Sarah Laskowski, age 12, of Bear, 0.82 pounds
 Second place – Maura Hossler, age 14, of Smyrna, 0.51 pounds
 Third place – Hunter Mazzio, age 13, of Bear, 0.49 pounds

In Kent County, Pierce Clifton, age 13, of Houston, took the title of overall county winner with 3.46 pounds of fish caught. The other Kent County winners, by age group and total weight of fish caught, were:

Ages 4 to 7
 First place – Hunter Timmons, age 5, of Dover, 3.02 pounds
 Second place – Peyton Timmons, age 6, of Dover, 0.62 pounds
 Third place – Billy Walsh, age 7, of Dover, 0.53 pounds

Ages 8 to 11
 First place – Kevin Turner, age 9, of Felton, 1.69 pounds
 Second place – Nicholas Lynn, age 9, of Felton, 1.52 pounds
 Third place – Steven Swann, age 11, of Dover, 1.0 pounds

Ages 12 to 15
 First place – Ronald Degano, age 14, of Magnolia, 3.42 pounds
 Second place – Anthony Felise, age 14, of Hartly, 1.60 pounds
 Third place – Gerard McDonald, age 14, of Dover, 0.60 pounds

At Ingrams Pond, the biggest fish of the day was a bass weighing 1.0 pound and caught by 6-year-old Karoline Carey of Georgetown, who also won third place in her age group. The smallest fish of the day was a 0.019-pound blue gill caught by 5-year-old Ellie Payne of Georgetown. Another interesting catch was a 0.52-pound eel caught by James Stangl, age 8, of Milford. Other Sussex winners, by age group and total weight of fish caught, were:

Ages 4 to 7
 First place – Tommy Phillips, age 7, of Frankford, 3.5 pounds
 Second place – Kayla Harant, age 7, of Selbyville, 1.49 pounds
 Third place – Karoline Carey, age 6, of Georgetown, 1.48 pounds

Ages 8 to 11
 First place – Sam Lekites, age 9, of Bishopville, Md., 3.16 pounds
 Second place – Kelly Phillips, age 9, of Frankford, 1.59 pounds
 Third place – Morgan Freund, age 8, of Selbyville, 1.50 pounds

Ages 12 to 15
 First place – William Geppert, age 12, of Rehoboth Beach, 3.27 pounds
 Second place – Katie Phillips, age 12, of Frankford, 2.45 pounds
 Third place – Kellye Rowe, age 12, of Laurel, 1.64 pounds
 
The winners received fishing poles and tackle boxes as well as trophies, and all the participants received prizes. County winners will be presented with their trophies at the DNREC Awards ceremony on Governors Day, Thursday, July 28 at the 2011 Delaware State Fair in Harrington.
 
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 to 15.

For more information on the Youth Fishing Tournament, please call 302-739-9913 or visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Info/YouthFishing.htm.  

Vol. 41, No. 243