SPRING LAKE — With the return of the annual Trout Contest for Kids just around the corner, young anglers from across New Jersey gathered on the north shore of Spring Lake to help hundreds of the fish complete their journey to the water.
The roughly 600 trout, a few of which exceed 10 pounds, were hatched by Musky Trout Hatchery, a fish farm located in Asbury Park. On Saturday, hundreds of kids hauled buckets and bins filled with the fish from the hatchery truck out to Spring Lake, where they watched as the trout swam off.
Each year, the hatchery partners with the Shark River Surf Anglers (SRSA) fishing club to stock the lake ahead of the annual Trout Contest for Kids, said trout committee chairman and SRSA President Greg Hueth.
At the lake-stocking, Hueth said, “There’s always the anticipation of catching the fish, so they get to see what they’re going to catch. It’s nice having them come down to put the fish in the lake and seeing the enthusiasm they all have. And, hopefully, they’ll all come back next week for the contest.”
While the main event is on April 5 with the Trout Contest, which routinely draws more than 1,000 young competitors to the waters of Spring Lake, the stocking itself, which took place March 29, was also quite the occasion, with kids getting a hands-on look at the trout before angling to catch them. Hueth said that making the sport of fishing more accessible to kids is something the SRSA is glad to facilitate.
“The idea is to get them started and get them out there fishing, to get away from the computer for a little while,” he said. “And I can’t tell you how many generations have come to the event; now, kids who were doing this years ago are bringing back their own kids.”
“It’s a kids’ event, and it’s something I love doing and love sharing,” Hueth said.
Several kids stocking the lake Saturday morning told The Coast Star why they have so much fun, both with fishing for trout and stocking the lake.
“My favorite thing is catching them and then throwing them back in the water,” said Jordyn Walicky, 8, of Brick Township. “The hardest part is to actually pull the fish in…Sometimes we take them home, and sometimes we throw them back.”
On Saturday, April 5, the Trout Contest festivities will kick off with fishing from 8 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. At 2 p.m., fish will be weighed in preparation for the awards ceremony, where contestants will receive their prizes, which include, at the top level, a fishing charter trip.
Contestants will be broken into several age categories. A grand prize will be awarded to the overall winner, and individual prizes will be given to four anglers in different age groups for first, second and third place who catch the heaviest trout.
Even those who don’t end up catching a fish will “go home a winner,” Hueth said, as all participants will receive a goody bag with a variety of fun items.
The day is entirely free to young anglers and their families, thanks to donations from both event sponsors and community members. Trout season in New Jersey officially begins Saturday, April 5 at 8 a.m.
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