DESPITE intermittent showers and a high-surf advisory, the Department of Agriculture’s Divisions of Aquatic & Wildlife Resources 2012 Kids Fishing Derby took place at Adelup and was a resounding success.

According to event coordinator Brent Tibbatts, a fisheries biologist, 21 youths aged 7 to 12 years old showed up with their families to compete in this year’s derby.

Tibbatts explained this was the 18th year the derby has been held and that in years past, more than 70 participants would enjoy the event. “But high surf and bad weather I think scared some people away, but we had a lot of fish caught today.”

He went on to comment about the most unusual fish caught during the derby: “A sea cucumber was the most unusual thing caught out there today.”

The young fishermen competed for prizes in three categories: the longest fish; the most fish caught; and the longest triggerfish. Tibbatts explained that the kids were competing for trophies as well as prizes. “Everybody who competes gets a raffle prize and everybody will win a prize.”

He added: “It’s primarily to teach kids to fish, teach them safe fishing, and get them hopefully hooked on to something that will get them outdoors and experience the beautiful environment of Guam.”

Malaina Blas

Perhaps the luckiest kid of all was 12-year-old Malaina Blas. The young fishing fanatic won the granddaddy of the raffle prizes – a roundtrip airfare to anywhere Freedom Air flies. When asked where she would travel, her father Jamie Blas chimed in: “She’ll get to go to Rota to visit her relatives.”

When asked about what the most important information the kids will learn from this event, Tibbatts commented, “We teach the kids that this is a catch and release event and that (when fishing in general) if you catch small fish, they need to be released until they’re big enough to be eaten. Let them go and let them have babies so their babies will be there to replace them once they are caught.” 

Pointing at the ocean beyond the reef, he also explained the derby’s educational safety element, “Don’t go out in the water if the conditions are dangerous. We don’t want anybody getting hurt.”

With nearly three hours of fishing time logged, the 21 rod-and-reel rug rats returned to the grassy area of the Ricardo J. Bordallo Governors’ Complex where they were treated to lunch and an award ceremony. The youngsters also used the opportunity to tell fish stories. Tammi Wusstig, 12, a fierce competitor and returning participant from past derbies, while smiling and poking fun at the diminutive fish she had caught and making a 2-inch measurement with her thumb and index finger, said: “It was like this big.” 

Having caught the event’s most fish (5), Audrey Manibusan, 9, when asked how she did it and if she employed some special techniques, with her proud grandma Mary Lizama by her side, said: “I’m a fisherwoman.”