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Kids line up by age group in order to receive their prizes |
PALMETTO – About a hundred kids, ages 7-14, lined the Green Bridge Fishing Pier in order to compete in the 23rd Annual Jerry Hill Memorial Kids Fishing Tournament on Saturday. Any child within the age group could enter as long, as they had parental supervison.
The Manatee Sarasota Fish & Game Association, along with members of the Bradenton and North Manatee River Kiwanis Clubs, organized the event with the help of the City of Palmetto. It was the 23th time Palmetto has held a kids fishing tournament, but it was recently re-named in remembrance of famous fishing writer, Jerry Hill.
”Our goal today is to give the kids a fun and free day,“ said Jim Eliaon, who is a member of the Kiwanis Club.
The children can sign up for the event in their school or come before the start and fill out an application. They are then provided with bait, a t-shirt, and a fishing pole if they didn’t bring one. The event lasts two hours, followed by a free lunch and award ceremony.
Every child got a prize just for competing, and three winners got fishing poles in every age group.
The results are as follows:
Age: 7
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| Bothers Kwesi, 14, , Kofi, 10, and Ato, 10, pose with mother, Mrs. Kwapong (in back) |
1. Olivia Marico, 15" sea turtle
2. Myles Ormsby, 15" whiting
3. Evan Pasik, 13" sting ray
Age: 8
1. Zackary Byers, 10 ?" mangrove snapper
2. Harrison Pilsbury, 10" catfish
Tied for 3rd place:
3. Caitlin Barkley, 8" blowfish
3. Savanah King, 8" spade fish
Age: 9
1. Osama Freija, 15" trout
2. Gage Clarke, 13" snapper
3. Michael Marico, 12 ?" catfish
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Every kid received a bait bucket just for competing |
Age: 10
1. Howard Hinds, 20" yellow tail jack
2. Jason Brown, 14 ?" snook
3. Anthony Hayes, 14" catfish
Age: 11
1. Brian Ormsby, 27" stingray
2. Devon Logan, 15" trout
3. Brenndon Seesholtz, 15" catfish
Age: 12
1. Daniel Johnson Jr., 18 ? mackerel
2. Desmond Cannon, 13 ? snapper
3. Austin Parrish, 10 ? catfish
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| Geo Overstreet, 10, caught 3 fish |
Age: 13
1. Josh Jackson 18" ladyfish
2. Kevin Bustle 14" flounder
3. Regan Hinkle 12" ? yellow tail jack
Age: 14
1. Mike Shaw, 14" stingray
2. David Villarreal, 10" catfish
3. Rene Thormodson, 10" mangrove snapper
There were a variety of different species caught on the bait provided for each child, which consisted of shrimp and squid.
10-year-old Geo Overstreet was one of the participants.
”I caught three fish,“ he said, ”a mangrove snapper and two dogfish.“
Dalton Allen, another ten-year-old, caught four pinfish.
”(My brother) caught a rock!“, said Ato Kwapang age 12.
”Well, a rock and a dogfish,“ corrected brother Kwesi.
The kids definitely seem to have a great time. Everyone went home with a smile on their face and in some cases, a bait bucket as big as they were.
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