Youngsters 15 and under are invited to try their fishing luck at the free Fishing Derby hosted by Whitehall Recreation Department on May 24 at the Coplay Creek located at Hokey Park and Playground.

The Derby will award first through third place prizes for the largest fish for ages 6 and under, 7-9, 10-12 and 13-15 age groups. All fish must be measured and registration for the contest begins at 8 a.m. for the event that begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 11 a.m.

According to Michele Dragovitz, Whitehall Township Administrative Coordinator, there will be 150 rainbow trout stocked of which 125 will be 12-15 inches long, while 25, 16-20-inch lunker trout will be planted. She goes on to list the following:

Some rules to know is that prizes will be awarded based on the size of the fish with tie-breakers judged by the heaviest weight. This process will continue until a winner is determined, or a max of four fish have been measured. If no winner can be determined after four fish have been measured, a Random Selection Activity will be conducted to determine a winner.

No more than one prize will be awarded per angler. The winner of the biggest fish prize cannot also win first place in their age group. And registered anglers must be present to claim their prize.

A few other items are that there’s a limit of four fish per angler and only single hooks are permitted. No spinners, lures or corn are allowed. Live bait or Power Bait however is permitted. Adults can assist the kids who need help, but cannot fish for them.

All fishing must be done from the bank as no wading is permitted and each contestant may only use one rod.

Hokey Park is located at 3417 Lehigh Street, Whitehall which below the Ironton Rail Trail Bridge and a short distance off MacArthur Road.

FISHING REPORT

With all the rain we’ve been getting local streams and rivers are high and muddy in color. So the alternative is to head down to the Jersey shore where On the Water Magazine reports that big striped bass, bunker and 12-pound bluefish have moved into Raritan Bay.

There are also more 50-inch stripers being caught in the North Jersey surf along with fluke up to 7 pounds showing up in the Shrewsbury River. Added as well is the opening of sea bass season that kicked off this past Saturday.