A competitor receives a helpful tip at the August 5 derby. Image by Guam Department of Agriculture.

University of Guam Sea Grant (UOGSG) and the Department of Agriculture’s Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR) will host the Kids' August Saltwater Fishing Derby from 7 a.m. to noon at Asan Park this Saturday, August 12.

Free registration at DAWR ends on Friday, August 11 at noon. Competitors need to provide proof of age to establish eligibility, which is 7-12 years old.

Youth must bring their own rods, reels, floats, and bait. DAWR staffs conduct the required safety briefing at 7:30 a.m. while the two-hour timed fishing session starts at 8 a.m.

"Even for those who aren't fishing, this is a wonderful opportunity to visit Asan Park and cheer the kids on," says Assistant Instructor Marie Auyong of Sea Grant. "Their excitement at catching something is pretty infectious, and you can even learn a thing or two about casting from the young winners!"

UOG Sea Grant and DAWR led two fishing clinics in July and August to encourage youth participation in the derbies, which have been held for more than 25 years.

For more information, contact Brent Tibbatts at (671) 735-0289 / 0281 / 0294 (guamfishinfo@gmail.com) or Marie Auyong at auyongm@triton.uog.edu.

The National Sea Grant College Program is a partnership between universities and the federal
government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). To learn more about University of Guam Sea Grant, see cnas-re.uog.edu or check Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UOGSeaGrant/.