The smile on Josh Cabrera’s face said it all. He caught one of the biggest fish of the day at Saturday’s fishing derby sponsored by the Fort McAllister Sport Fishing Club and the City of Richmond Hill in J.F. Gregory Park.
The fishing derby was the final event in Richmond Hill’s weeklong observance of Georgia Cities Week.
Bobby Sauls, vice president of the Fort McAllister Sport Fishing Club, saw the smile on Cabrera’s face and said that was the reason he and other club members volunteer their time at the yearly derby.
“We do this every year for the community. We want kids to get hooked on fishing, not on drugs or alcohol. Our club is family friendly,” Sauls said.
Sauls said more than 100 children registered for the fishing derby but estimated more than 200 people took advantage of the fishing fun.
The club also sponsors other community events such as taking soldiers fishing who have experienced the ravages of war — “Wounded Warriors” — and “Bikes for Tykes,” Sauls said.
“We’re a community-minded club,” he said.
As the city does every year during Georgia Cities Week, the lake was stocked the week before the fishing derby.
“The pond was stocked with 2,000 pounds of catfish last week. The fish average about three-quarters of a pound each,” said Richmond Hill Parks Director Harvey Lashley.
Every child who fished in the derby Saturday received a medallion to wear signifying their accomplishment.
“Every kid is a winner,” Sauls said.
The children below received trophies for catching the biggest fish of the day.
1-5 years old
* 3rd place – Riley Lee, 1 lb., 10 oz. catch
* 2nd place – Braelyn Canady, 1 lb., 12 oz. catch
* 1st place – Chase Jordan, 1 lb. 13 oz. catch
6-10 years old
* 3rd place – Andrew Bushy, 2 lb., 15 oz. catch
* 2nd place – Cody Brinkly, 3 lb., 1 oz. catch
* 1st place – Jose Cabrera, 3 lb. 5 oz. catch
11-15 years old
* 3rd place – Jarrad Kingry, 1 lb., 14 oz. catch
* 2nd place – Xavier Divellars, 3 lb., 4.5 oz. catch
* 1st place – Hunter Owens, 3 lb. 5 oz. catch
The Fort McAllister Sport Fishing Club meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Fort McAllister Marina.