June 10, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 262

For more information, contact Carol Gondeck, Fish and Wildlife, 302-739-9913, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Division of Fish and Wildlife
Announces Results from 23rd
Annual Youth Fishing Tournament  

Some anglers say fishing’s better on a cloudy day. On June 6, gray skies and cool temperatures drew nearly 350 young anglers to test that old theory in the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s 23rd Annual Youth Fishing Tournament. All of the fish caught in the tournament were weighed and released.

When the day was done, 11-year-old Danny Blaasch of Middletown came out as overall statewide winner, as well as the New Castle County winner, with two carp weighing in at a total of 12.54 pounds – also the biggest fish of the day.

The New Castle County location, Lums Pond in Bear, shattered last year’s record turnout of 150 with a new record of 202 children and teens casting lines to catch large numbers of carp, bass and panfish, while Kent County’s numbers nearly doubled with 76 youngsters turning out at Wyoming Pond. Sussex County held steady with 53 young anglers at Ingrams Pond in Millsboro.

In addition to Danny Blaasch, the other New Castle winners, by age group and total weight of fish caught, were:

Ages 4 to 7

            First place – Sam Griffith, age 7, of Middletown, 2.1 pounds
            Second place – Carter Wilkins, age 7, of Bear, 1.98 pounds
            Third place – Justin Griffith, age 4, of Pennsville, N.J., 1.8 pounds

Ages 8 to 11

            First place – Shane Barrett, age 11, of Newark, 2.89 pounds
            Second place – Laurel Hossler, age 8, of Smyrna, 2.6 pounds
            Third place – Jessica Crowley, age 9, of New Castle, 2.3 pounds

Ages 12 to 15

            First place – Katie Peel, age 14, of Middletown, 2.78 pounds
            Second place – Maura Hossler, age 12, of Smyrna, 1.97 pounds
            Third place – Juwan Morrow, age 12, of New Castle, 1.7 pounds

In Kent County, R.J. Degano, age 12, of Magnolia, took the title of overall county winner with 4.04 pounds of fish caught. R.J. also caught the biggest fish of the day, a Citation-size bluegill weighing 1.05 pounds.

The other winners, by age group and total weight of fish caught, were:

Ages 4 to 7

            First place – Cody Swartzentruber, age 6, of Dover, 2.4 pounds
            Second place – Kevin Turner, age 7, of Felton, 1.79 pounds
            Third place – Matt Stangl, age 6, of Dover, 1.21 pounds

Ages 8 to 11

            First place – David Swartzentruber, age 9, of Dover, 3.44 pounds
            Second place – Sarah Deason, age 10, of Harrington, 3.41 pounds
            Third place – Gary Cherch, age 11, of Wyoming, 3.1 pounds

Ages 12 to 15

            First place – Nicholas Henner, age 12, of Felton, 1.32 pounds
            Second place – Rebecca Kerrick, age 12, of Wyoming, 1.12 pounds
            Third place – Tyler Trego, age 12, of Harrington, 0.84 pounds

At Ingrams Pond, 6-year-old Julia Ballard of Millsboro took the title of overall Sussex County winner with 3.8 pounds of fish caught. The biggest fish of the day was a yellow perch weighing 0.58 pounds and caught by 11-year-old Adam Harkness of Millsboro. The smallest fish of the day was a bluegill weighing half an ounce caught by 15-year-old Zach Rogers of Millsboro.

The other Sussex winners, by age group and total weight of fish caught, were:

Ages 4 to 7

            First place – Caleb Bishop, age 7, of Ellendale, 1.6 pounds
            Second place – Katie Hall, age 4, of Georgetown, 0.64 pounds
            Third place – Sean Lasher, age 7, of Georgetown, 0.61pounds

Ages 8 to 11

            First place – Hunter Lied, age 10, of Millsboro, 2.9 pounds
            Second place – Chad Conaway, age 9, of Georgetown, 1.89 pounds
            Third place – Adam Harkness, age 11, of Millsboro, 1.9 pounds

Ages 12 to 15

             First place – Brian Keech, age 15, of Rehoboth Beach, 2.2 pounds
             Second place – Sean Stritzl, age 12, of Millsboro, 1.5 pounds
             Third place – Zach Rogers, age 15, of Millsboro, 1.2 pounds

The winners received fishing poles and tackle boxes as well as trophies, and all the participants received prizes donated by area tackle shops. The county winners will be presented their trophies at the DNREC Awards ceremony on Governors Day, Thursday, July 30 at the 2009 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.