Two boys show off the fish they caught to their dad. - Photo Credit: Lea Brown

Some boys try their luck fishing at the brushy end of the pond. - Photo Credit: Brian Allen, Biological Technician

A father instructs his son in how to rig up a fishing pole. - Photo Credit: Brian Allen, Biological Science Technician

This young angler takes a break from fishing but won't give up her fishing pole. - Photo Credit: Brian Allen, Biological Technician

The quintessential portrait of a boy fishing. - Photo Credit: Lea Brown

Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) held its 15th Annual Children’s Fishing Derby on June 16, 2012. The derby is an annual event hosted by the refuge in cooperation with The Friends of Moosehorn and Cobscook Bay State Park. The fishing derby took place at the Headquarters Pond at Cobscook Bay State Park along the coast of Down East Maine. The state park is located entirely on lands owned by Moosehorn NWR, which provides locals and visitors to the Down East region the unique opportunity to appreciate the wildlife and wildlife habitats on a national wildlife refuge through camping.

The annual children’s fishing derby provides children with the opportunity to experience a consumptive wildlife recreation opportunity, with the hopes that those children will learn to appreciate nature and will want to conserve nature and wildlife habitats when they grow up. The derby also is an opportunity for refuge and state park staff to invite the public to our lands and introduce them to all that we have to offer them in terms of outdoor recreational opportunities. The derby also allows refuge and park staff to interact with the public in a positive way in the hopes that the public will support our presence in the area and the conservation activities we undertake. The derby is also just a fun time for local families and refuge and park staff to get together, let the kids fish and compete for prizes, and enjoy some good food in the great outdoors.

The weather during the derby was pleasant with partly sunny skies, a high temperature around 70F, and a light north breeze. Attendance at the event was lower than normal with only 71 children registering, which may have been due to competition from the number of other family-oriented events taking place in the local area that day. The children were accompanied by a similar number of adults, bringing the total attendance at the event to around 150 people.

The refuge and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife stocked the Headquarters Pond with hundreds of brook trout prior to the derby to give the children the greatest chance to feel the excitement of catching a native freshwater fish. However, many of the fish decided that they did not want to be caught on that warm morning and descended into a few deep holes out in the pond. Children caught fewer fish than normal during the derby because of the fishes’ evasive maneuvers. Luckily, some children figured out where the fish were hiding and caught their limit of 5 fish quickly, and then let other kids fish in the honey holes they had discovered. Several children stayed after the derby was over and fished the deep holes and brought a lot of fish home for dinner.

The friends group, local businesses and individuals, and the refuge gave out numerous prizes to the children. Prizes were given to the top 3 anglers in each of the 3 age categories at the end of the derby. Several random prizes were given out throughout the event to keep things interesting and to reward those families who didn’t give up fishing for the 2-hour derby. Prizes were primarily fishing related, and ranged from rod-and-reel combos to tackle boxes, tools, gift certificates, and life jackets. Lots of free hot dogs, chips, cookies, and drinks were given out to all children and adults at the event, so no one went home hungry, even if they didn’t catch “the big one.” Everyone looks forward to next year’s derby!