Monday, June 07, 2010
Nearly 400 children and youth enjoy MWA Kids Fishing Derby
Academy Sports and others help provide a day of family outdoor recreation
Antwain Deal, who reeled in a 6 pound - 14 ounce catfish, won the Biggest Catch of the Day at the 2010 Kids Fishing Derby, which included some nice prizes thanks to event sponsors and Friends of MWA Fishing.
Nearly 400 children and youth – and approximately the same number of accompanying adults – took part in the sixth annual Macon Water Authority Kids Fishing Derby at Javors Lucas Lake on Saturday, June 5.
Event organizers say this year’s Kids Fishing Derby may have had the largest crowd to gather for this event to date, as even the hottest weather of the year couldn’t keep people away. The event was free to kids and adults, since it was held on one of the few days of the year that the Georgia Department of Natural Resources allows free fishing on state waters without a permit, to help promote the sport and encourage outdoor recreation.
The competitive portion of the Kids Fishing Derby entails contestants from four age groups comparing their largest catch of the day to see who has reeled in the biggest fish. There were a number of impressive catches showing up during weigh in at the end of the day.
The Biggest Catch of the Day went to Antwain Deal, who reeled in a 6 pound, 14 ounce catfish. He also won first place in the 14 to 16 age group, finishing ahead of Jasmine Clark in second (4 pounds/12 ounces) and Terrance Parker in third (4 pounds/9 ounces).
In the 10 to 13 age group, Terrance Robinson finished in first place with a catch of 4 pounds, 1 ounce, followed by James Whitfield in second (3 pounds/11 ounces), and Sylvester Clark in third (3 pounds/6 ounces).
In the 6 to 9 age group, Kaitlyn Goodson won top honors with a catch of 4 pounds, 9 ounces, while Chasmin Stewart (4 pounds/8 ounces) and Cameron Collins (4 pounds/4 ounces) finished in second and third, respectively.
Finally, in the 3 to 5 age group, young Kameron Hardwick caught an impressive sized fish that was 5 pounds, 11 ounces, winning her first place in this age group. Harley Rawlins and Mason Rawlins finished in a tie for second, as each brought home a 4 pound catfish.
Friends of MWA Fishing include all of the 2010 Kids Fishing Derby Sponsors, Supporters and Volunteers. In addition to Academy Sports serving as premier sponsor, and the MWA Board of Directors and Employees serving as sponsoring hosts, other Friends of the 2010 MWA Kids Fishing Derby included:
• Am Star Cinemas
• Applebee’s
• Barloworld Leading Brands
• Capital City Bank
• Capital Cycle
• Cheddars
• Cherokee Brick & Tile
• Chick-fil-A
• Cole Electric
• Delta Municipal Supply Company, Inc.
• Ferguson
• General Chemical
• Georgia Power
• Golden Corral
• Jeneane’s
• KC Bait & Tackle
• Longhorn Steakhouse
• McAlister’s Deli
• Medical Center of Central Georgia
• Middle Georgia Fluid Seals
• NeXChem
• NexTec
• Prochem
• Red Lobster
• Reeves Construction Company
• Ryan’s
• Stephen’s Diner
• Sticky Fingers
• Satterfield’s
• Sock Shoppe
• Sonic
• Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q
• Wade’s Detail Shop
Javors Lucas Lake is open to the public for fishing through the end of October. Following the July 4th holiday weekend, however, the MWA drinking water reservoir is closed for public fishing during the remainder of July and August, before re-opening on Labor Day Weekend.
From Thursday Sept. 2 through the last weekend in October, fishing will be allowed four days per week on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (The Authority Board of Directors has added Thursdays during the months of September and October to the 2010 fishing schedule.)
For more information on public fishing at Javors Lucas Lake, citizens can contact the Macon Water Authority at 478-464-5650, or check out the link for “Fishing on Javors Lucas Lake” on this Web site.
Media contact:
Chris Wood, Ph.D.
770-757-1681 (cell)
jcwood@uga.edu (email)