Kids reel in a good time at Fishing Derby

POINT PLEASANT BEACH — The Point Beach side of the Manasquan Inlet was lined with eager young anglers who dropped their lines for the borough’s fourth annual Kids Fishing Derby on Sunday morning.

The event has been hosted for the past four years by the Point Pleasant Beach Recreation Committee. This year, 80 children competed to catch the biggest fish. However, some kids had their own personal triumphs regardless of the size of their fish.

“It went fantastic. We sold out again this year like we have done for the last three years,” said Ryan Simunovich, chair of the event and a member of the recreation committee. “We had 14 kids this year who caught their first fish ever, and that was really exciting. We caught a lot of fish — anywhere from four inches to 18-and-a-half inches. I think just about everyone caught a fish.”

“The thing I was most excited about this year is that we had so many companies donate prizes this year; almost $4,000 in prizes,” Simunovich said. “Every kid left having had a really great day.”

Katie McGee won this year’s Kids Fishing Derby, having caught the biggest fish of the day: an 18.5-inch fluke. For her angling skills, she won a “penguin experience” for her family, courtesy of Jenkinson’s Aquarium. Caleb McGuire came in second place with an 18-inch fluke; he won a rod-and-reel combination package, donated by the Berkeley Striper Club.

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