The steamy hot weather on June 7 did not keep a record 150 young anglers and their families from turning out at the New Castle County location of the 22nd Annual Youth Fishing Tournament, sponsored by the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife. The eager group crowded the banks of Lums Pond in Bear, poles, tackle boxes and bait in hand.

When the day was done, it was Mike Moore, age 14, of Middletown, who took the title of overall county winner. With a whopping 14.5 pounds of fish caught, Mike is also the statewide tournament winner. He will receive a special trophy and $100 savings bond at this summer’s Delaware State Fair, where the Kent and Sussex County overall winners will also be recognized.

Eleven-year-old Maalik Edwards caught the day’s biggest fish, a 7.5-pound carp, while Ryan Stetser, age 10, caught the smallest, a bluegill wearing just 1 gram.

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

Ages 4 to 7
            First place – David Bracale, age 7, of Middletown, 2.2 pounds
            Second place – Sam Griffith, age 6, of Middletown, 1.6 pounds
            Third place – Owen Grossi, age 4, of Wilmington, 1.08 pounds

Ages 8 to 11
            First place – Logan Burris, age 10, of Middletown, 7.89 pounds
            Second place – Maalik Edwards, age 11, of Newark, 7.5 pounds
            Third place – Ryan Stetser, age 10, of New Castle, 6.5 pounds

Ages 12 to 15
            First place – Mark Edwards, age 14, of Newark, 5.48 pounds
            Second place – John Metz, age 12, of Wilmington, 0.83 pounds
            Third place – Anna Palmer, age 12, 0.51 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 24 at the 2008 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.fw.delaware.gov/Info/YouthFishing.htm.

Please note, the Kent and Sussex tournament results have been issued separately.