Hamilton, Texas
Macie’s grandmother, Faye Corrado, reports that this nice redfish came on her granddaughter’s very first saltwater fishing trip, to the Port O’Connor jetties, and Macie 1 is now totally hooked. She got up at 4 a.m. telling everyone to hurry up because “We’ve got fish waiting!” On one catch, in her excitement she slipped off the side of the boat and found out what that life jacket was for. Says Corrado, all Macie’s family hears now is “When are we going back?” Find out how to nominate a kid here!
High Goals
Billings, Montana
Josh 2 has set high fishing goals for himself, spending every second he can in his backyard fine-tuning his skills. Josh accomplished his first goal last November, when he caught a walleye that currently holds the IGFA world record for junior male anglers 10 and under. His second goal was to catch a fish larger than he is. He reached this goal last March when he caught this chunky wahoo while fishing in the Bahamas with his grandfather and mother.
Personal Best
Marstons Mills, Massachusetts
There’s nothing more satisfying than catching quality fish in your home waters, and Nolan 3 enjoys fishing in the waters off Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, near his home. Each fall for the last three years he has participated in one of the most venerable fishing competitions in the land, the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, winning numerous daily and weekly awards. Recently he caught this personal best 30.6-pound striped bass while fishing from his father’s boat.
Catcher of Weird Cod
Derry, New Hampshire
Last year off Massachusetts, Sara 1 and her family were fishing for cod. Here’s her story: “I was jigging for cod when I got a bite. So I started reeling it in. The cod kept getting heavier and heavier. It took me a while to get it to the side of the boat. You know what I found out? I had caught seven or eight dogfish and a cod head! It was my first sighting of such a natural phenomenon! It was also the weirdest cod ever.” Sounds like you got to see the food chain in action, Sara!
Hooked on Marlin
Chesapeake, Virginia
In August, Austin 2 and his family were fishing about 20 miles off Key Largo, Florida, looking for dolphin, when Austin hooked a blue marlin on 20-pound-test. He fought the marlin for 40 minutes but eventually released the fish boat-side. His father says Austin was completely exhausted after the fight, and his left arm hurt for several days afterward, but the experience made such an impression on him that his dad is sure Austin will tell his children someday and take them fishing too.
Family Striper Tradition
Washington, D.C.
For Gus’ 3 10th birthday present, his grandfather Merv Weiner (a member of the Greater Cuttyhunk Island Striped Bass Club) gave him a special striped bass trip off Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts, a destination Gus had long heard tales about and dreamed of fishing out of. With both his father and grandfather aboard Capt. Duane Lynch’s charter boat, Sea Hawk, Gus caught his first striper, a fat 17-pounder, on a 1 a.m. tide while trolling a plug at the Sow and Pigs shoal. It would be hard to guess who was the proudest member of that trio.
Seeking an Inshore Slam
Easton, Pennsylvania
Just before Nick’s eighth birthday, his dad, Harry, took him fishing at J.N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, on Sanibel Island, Florida. Neither of them had any real Florida fishing experience, but after a few fishless days, Harry bought Nick a lucky redfish cap. They took a kayak out to explore and found tailing reds right away. Several fish pulled Nick all around the front of the kayak, and he was beaming. Later that day, Nick asked his dad, “When are we going to catch a snook?” He’s a quick learner.
Raised on Blue Water
Shillington, Pennsylvania
Mackenzie and Madison fish with their dad, Matt, out of Dewey Beach, Delaware, and Marathon, Florida Keys. Matt says they don’t let too many weeks go by without at least one run to blue water. Mackenzie and Madison recently caught their first-ever yellowfin tunas while fishing offshore of Delaware on the family boat, O’Fishal, with their dad and grandfather. That’s a feat many adults would love to accomplish. Look for the Langdon sisters to become accomplished offshore anglers.
