Gone Fishin': Cobb Fishing Rodeo Kicks Off at Hyde Farm Park

EAST COBB — Along the edges of the Hyde Farm Park pond, young anglers cast their fishing rods in a competition to catch the biggest fish Saturday morning.

The fishing event at the park, off Lower Roswell Road in east Cobb, was open to kids aged 3 to 16 and was the first of four competitions in the annual Cobb Parks Fishing Rodeo.

Organized by Cobb County Parks and Recreation, the rodeo aims to introduce kids to the joys of fishing while fostering an appreciation for environmental stewardship, said Charlie Monroe, Cobb Parks natural resources manager.

“Today’s event is about getting young people out to experience fishing and to learn a greater appreciation for natural resources,” Monroe said.

The fishing rodeo featured several activities tailored to different age groups.

While the older kids participated in the two-hour-long competition, those too young to fish could enjoy popsicles and a fish-shaped cornhole game.

“They’re learning how to feed the fish back and forth,” Monroe said, watching as a young girl brought bean bags back and forth in the game.

According to John Purcell, the recreation program coordinator, the rodeo began at Lost Mountain Park 22 years ago and expanded to Hyde Farm seven years ago.

Families surrounded the stocked pond, equipped with their own gear and bait, waiting for the bream and catfish to bite.

“The only thing different this year is the kids are catching a little more fish than usual,” Purcell said.

After reeling in their catch, kids would quickly run up the hill holding their fish, oftentimes with their catch slipping through their fingers, to have it measured and recorded. After being measured, the fish were released back into the pond.

Mark Alexander, of Powder Springs, brought his grandson Jeremy Watts, 9, who was eager to win the top prize. Watts had only fished two or three other times, including at a rodeo in Douglas County last month.

“I’m trying to make my lure look like it’s swimming,” Watts said.

Alexander recalled fishing for fun as a young boy in Guyana.

“But we’d never throw anything back. Whatever we’d catch, we’d eat,” Alexander said.

For Alexander, the event is a great way to spend time with his grandson because “pretty soon he’ll be grown and gone.”

Sharal and Brion Ozim of Powder Springs felt this was the perfect opportunity for their son, Isaiah, to fish with other kids and receive advice that they couldn’t provide.

“(Isaiah) developed a love of fishing from my parents, who are now deceased, so we’re just coming to support him,” Sharal Ozim said. “We’re not natural fishers.”

Ozim and her husband sat in a shaded cove, playing Connect 4 and watching Isaiah reel in small bream.

Tony Cobb, an 80-year-old seasoned fisherman from Marietta who was at the event with his grandchildren, shared his 70 years of expertise with Isaiah after noticing he hadn’t caught anything.

“I just showed him how to tie a hook and gave him some hot dogs,” Cobb said.

After switching his rubber bait for pieces of hot dogs, Isaiah saw a big difference.

“Once (Cobb) came over and gave him some pointers, all of a sudden he started catching fish,” Brion Ozim said. “It was great, the camaraderie, and for someone to recognize what was going on and go ‘let me help this young guy out.’”

Using hot dogs soaked in grape Kool-Aid overnight, 7-year-old Bryce Perry caught the second largest fish of the day at 20.25 inches.

His dad, Michael Perry, learned about the trick through TikTok. In total, Bryce and his brothers, who have won at previous rodeos, caught about 15 to 20 fish.

Hugh Hawkins, age 10, placed third with his 17.25 inch catfish.

“Before I caught it, I was already in third place, but then I caught that big one,” Hawkins said.

Hugh’s father discovered the event through a poster and signed him up for all four fishing rodeos this summer.

“My favorite part is catching fish,” Hugh said.

In first place, Beppe Rude, 12, won the competition with the help of his best friend Luke Nunan. Together, the two reeled in and netted the 22-inch catfish.

Beppe learned how to fish from his father, Thomas Rude, and has been fishing since he “could cast a rod.” Similarly, Nunan has been fishing since he was 4 years old.

The trio shared their winning strategy: an octopus circle hook in shaded, deep water.

“The fish are really deep because it’s so hot,” Thomas Rude said. “The octopus hook will roll in its mouth so it hooks itself.”

The three winners took home a plaque, a new bait box and other goodies. Every participant received a giveaway bag filled with snacks and items like bobbers, plastic worms, sunscreen and bug spray.

The next event in the four-part rodeo will be on Saturday, July 13 at Lost Mountain Park. After that, the event will be at Ebenezer Downs Park on Saturday, July 20 and Furr Family Park on Saturday, July 27. Registration is $5.

For more information or to register, visit https://secure.rec1.com/GA/cobb-county-ga/catalog/index/df3365fe0e0a3fbd06030bf7a5bac906?filter=c2VhcmNoPWZpc2hpbmc= .