Curt Fiedler (center) with his son, George Jr. (5) and daughter, Nami (8). Both children placed in the top 14 in the 2017 Kids’ Freshwater Fishing Derby. Photo by Cyrus Luhr.

University of Guam Cooperative Extension & Outreach (UOG CE&O) and the Department of Agriculture’s Division of Aquatics and Wildlife Resources (DAWR) will host the Kids’ Freshwater Fishing Derby this Sunday, April 8 at Masso Reservoir in Piti from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

A legal guardian or parent should accompany competitors ages 5-16 years old. Youth must provide their own hooks, lines, rods, and bait. Registration is free and held on site. Parking is available just outside Piti Veterans’ Cemetery, which is a 5-minute walk to the reservoir.

When competitors or their friends and families need a break, they can also stop by one of several informational tables. In addition to a booth where people can make a simple fishing set-up from sturdy grass and line, outreach staffers have developed engaging hands-on activities about fishing techniques, native trees, mwarmwar making, and animals in the Masso area.

Participants should wear closed toed shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and sun block. Attendees should also note that Masso Reservoir has no restroom facilities.

This is the sixth Kids’ Freshwater Fishing Derby, which encourages youth outdoors recreation. The fishing platform with benches, tilapia and umatang-filled freshwater, and accessibility contribute to making it an ideal learning environment for first-time fishers.

Partners include the Southern Soil & Water Conservation District, the Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coral Reef Conservation Program.

For information about the derby contact Marie Auyong at (671) 735-2143 and auyongm@triton.uog.edu or Brent Tibbatts at (671) 735-0289/0281/0294 and guamfishinfo@gmail.com.

College of Natural and Applied Sciences

The UOG College of Natural & Applied Sciences (CNAS) provides science-based information and teaching to the people of Guam on a large range of subjects. Its Extension & Outreach Unit works to increase residents’ knowledge on topics ranging from pest management and natural resources to business planning and economical living. Check the CNAS website for workshops and other science-based activities at http://cnas-re.uog.edu/.