Family fun at fishing derby

More than 50 kids grabbed their poles Saturday to fish at the Oak Harbor Marina’s annual kids derby.

The event, which has been a fixture in Oak Harbor for the past 25 years, was sponsored by the Oak Harbor Yacht Club’s Buceneers.

At the end of the three-hour competition, 8-year-old Jonah Schoenborn, who lives in Graham, won first place for the boys when he caught a four-pound-seven-ounce dogfish.

Oak Harbor resident Tiffany Andrukat won first place in the girls category when she hauled in a one-pound-four-ounce fish.

Both Schoenborn and Andrukat received new bicycles for their efforts. While they had the biggest catches, children were reeling in fish of all sizes, the smallest one being splinter sized.

Boys and girls were also recognized for catching the most fish during the three-hour derby. Oak Harbor resident Joshua Le Brie weighed in three fish while Vannessa Herrick weighed in 11.

The derby provided families with an outing for the day. Some packed a lunch to enjoy at the picnic tables located at the dock where children fished. Families came from as far as Arlington and Graham to participate in the derby.

Once the derby ended, families enjoyed lunch as the winners were announced. Derby participants earned prizes through drawings. The rewards ranged from toys to cookies and were donated by local businesses.

In addition to the business support, members of the Oak Harbor Puget Sound Anglers were on hand preparing bait. They also brought fishing poles that were given to children who wanted to participate but didn’t have a pole.

The Buccaneers have sponsored the derby for the past several years.

“We’re trying to be involved in the community as much as we can,” volunteer Terry Mills said.

In addition to the derby, the groups collects food donations during Thanksgiving to ensure eight or nine families can enjoy a holiday meal.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.