By Brooklynn De Shazer
On Aug. 22, more than 450 kids showed up, bright and early, at Seal Beach Pier for the 34th annual Rotary Kids Fishing Derby. The pier was filled with participants and volunteers for a morning of fishing, community and food.
The Rotary of Los Alamitos Seal Beach and Cypress hosted this free event that welcomed children ages 15 and under. No prior fishing experience was required, and children could participate even if they did not own a fishing pole.
Photo by Tim De Shazer.
“When you look down the Seal Beach Pier and see it shoulder-to-shoulder with kids and families fishing together, it’s hard not to smile. We had 474 registered kids this year — many fishing for the very first time — and probably twice that many parents, grandparents, siblings and friends sharing the morning with them,” Art Remnet, member of Rotary, said.
Throughout the morning, kids eagerly lined the pier waiting for something to bite. When a fish was caught, they brought the fish over to be weighed. Those who participated caught a wide variety of sea life, including fish, sharks and stingrays. All sea life that was caught was released back into the ocean after being weighed.
This year held the record for the most participants. Over 474 young fishermen and women registered for the derby. More than 100 fish were caught and weighed by volunteers.
Photo by Tim De Shazer
“My favorite part of the event is seeing all of the kids’ smiles as they go to fish at the derby! I think it is so nice that we have an event like this where the community can come together and share our love for fishing, ”Interact President Adrian Lopez said.
Many kids showed up to the pier with years and years of fishing experience while others got to try something new.
“What I love most is that nobody has to know how to fish or even own a fishing pole to be part of this. We had parents who had never fished before bringing their kids because they wanted them to try something new. Maybe they caught a fish. Maybe they didn’t. Either way, they spent a Saturday morning together and went home with a story,” said Remnet.
The event also wouldn’t have been possible without the Seal Beach Lions Club, providing breakfast for all participants. Participants were given meal tickets to enjoy a pancake and sausage breakfast. The turnout was so large that the Seal Beach Lions Club had to make several trips to the grocery store throughout the morning to pick up additional supplies for the breakfast.
“The kids’ faces are so cute. They light up when they catch a fish or try to catch one. We just work with a great group of people, so that’s really nice. My husband is in charge today. He is most days, whether I want him to be or not. We have a great time,” said a Lions Club member.
Fishing equipment was also available for children who needed it. Through a partnership with California Fish and Wildlife, they were able to provide kids with fishing rods, reels and other materials. Volunteers helped cut bait throughout the morning to provide supplies for participants.
The event also included competitions for different age groups and trophies were awarded for the biggest fish.
The young anglers competed in three age groups, with first, second and third-place winners recognized in each category:
Age 6 and Under
1st: Hasanah Ryan
2nd: Dexter Fournet
3rd: David Fonsera
Ages 7–11
1st: Everly Bersuch
2nd: Vincent Zavala
3rd: Abraham Ryan
Ages 12–15
1st: Caden Carl
2nd: Violet Juarez
3rd: Gavin Russell
First-place winners each received a new bicycle, while second and third-place winners received new fishing rods and tackle.
With 474 children registered, the 34th Annual Rotary Kids Fishing Derby continued a long-standing Seal Beach tradition while bringing families, volunteers and community organizations together.
For many of the young fishers, the morning was about more than just winning. It was a chance to try something new, spend time with family and friends and experience the excitement of seeing what might be at the end of the fishing line.
“That’s why our Rotary Club has continued this tradition for 34 years. It’s not really about who catches the biggest fish. It’s about giving kids an experience and families a memory. Seeing that pier filled with so many people having such a good time was pretty special,” said Remnet.