Surf City Pier Kids’ Tournament
Exceeding all expectations, Surf City Pier’s Fourth of July Children’s Fishing Competition and Celebration attracted 143 youth entrants from all over the state. The event was divided into three age groups: 4-7, 8-11, and 12-16. The competition was determined by most fish and largest fish, and first and second place winners in each group earned themselves $100 and $50 savings bonds.
In the 12-16 category, Jessica Moltey caught the largest fish, a 0.6 lb. flounder. Owen Alphin was the runner up with a 0.35 lb. spot. Victoria Jost landed 10 fish to earn the top honors for most fish, and Tyler George put 3 on the deck to take second.
The 8-11 year olds proved themselves formidable anglers as Cassidy Smith weighed in a 1.7 lb. pompano to earn first place largest fish. Hunter Spoon’s 1.17 lb. flounder earned him second place. Frank Betts topped the most fish competition with 10, and Britney Koczan was right on his heels with 8.
Matthew Steffee’s 0.69 lb. bluefish was the heaviest landed by a 4-7 year old, and Alexander Griffin took second with his 0.57 lb. spadefish. Leuk Koczan’s 13 fish were the most landed by any of the young anglers in the event and handily earned him first for the youngest anglers. Aleigha Christy put a strong 9 fish on the board as the runner-up.
In addition to the fishing competition, there was a Best Fish Story category, and all 10 kids who entered their stories earned themselves a $50 savings bond.
