Past Events: Kid's Summer Challenge

Partyboat Fishing!
August 21, 2006

On August 21, the broad, comfortable decks of the New Seaforth played host to families ready to try their fishing luck during the final Kid's Summer Challenge event of the summer. DFG teamed with Friends of Rollo-United Anglers and Seaforth Sportfishing to plan this event, and presented Kid's Summer Challenge passports to participants, along with prizes and goodie bags stuffed with loads of great items!

Over 70 young anglers picked up a rod and reel to try their fishing luck off of San Diego, earning passport stamps for species such as California halibut, Pacific bonito, kelp bass, lingcod, California scorpionfish, and cabezon in the process. The event gave many families their first opportunity to try ocean fishing together as a family, and some youngsters even caught their very first fish at this event, earning certificates of recognition for their accomplishment!

Loaner fishing tackle, bait, and even full lunches that included hamburgers and hot dogs were provided free of charge to young anglers who took up this challenge. Representatives from Alpen Optics distributed twenty-five monoculars to lucky drawing winners, and grand prizes including walkie-talkies and ocean fishing reels (donated by West Marine) were awarded to the young anglers who earned the most passport stamps. Every youngster also received a goodie bag filled with lots of fun items including West Marine frisbees, t-shirts, and more!

The captain and crew of the New Seaforth were the perfect hosts for this event, showing passengers how to bait their hooks, what to do when they had a fish on the line, and how to handle various fish species once landed. DFG staff and volunteers from United Anglers of Southern California also helped with handing out passports, unhooking fish, and instructing anglers about the best ways to catch a whopper.

The three Kid's Summer Challenge events held this summer were all "sneak peak" preview events of the full California Fishing Passport program set to officially launch on January 1, 2007. The California Fishing Passport program will be open to people of all ages who want to get outdoors and enjoy the many angling opportunities the Golden State has to offer!