Families Gather for 26th Annual Kids’ Fishing Derby

Saturday, May 28^th dawned a beautiful day in The Landings on Skidaway Island and, as usual, many residents headed out to play a round of golf or get in an active match of tennis or Pickleball. Other residents, namely 88 youngsters along with their families, chose a different outdoor experience by participating in the 26^th Annual CCA Kids’ Fishing Derby, looking to catch bluegill and bass in a lagoon specially reserved and stocked to provide for a fun and rewarding fishing experience for kids.

When the starting horn sounded at 9 a.m., a flurry of worms and crickets went flying through the air as the kids cast their lines hoping to catch the “big one” or, for many of these young anglers, their first fish ever. For about half of these youngsters it was their first time fishing. With help from our volunteer team of “Fishing Buddies” nearly every angler caught at least one fish. In total there were 343 bluegills and one bass landed during the Derby.

At the end of the morning portion of the Derby, door prizes from Bass Pro Shops and McDonald’s were handed out as well as rod-and-reel combos to winning anglers in the various age categories. More than 30 local CCA volunteers were on hand serving as Derby “helpers,” referees, and working the bait and rod-and-reel stations. A special thanks to the volunteer First Responders who were at the pond throughout the Derby.

This event would not be possible without our great sponsors who this year included CBE Group (Ginna Carroll, Jill Brooks, Pat Ewaldsen) of The Landings Company, Southern Motors Honda, Hale Marine, Savannah Blinds Shutters and Shades, The Omelette House, Bass Pro Shops, Paderewski Construction, Synovus Bank, Landlovers, The Landings Association (TLA), Kiwanis, Zebco, and Friends of Leonard DaCamara.

As always, this year’s Kids’ Fishing Derby was a morning full of smiles and laughs and, most of all, great family memories of time spent together outdoors. The good news is you don’t need to wait for next year’s Derby to go fishing with your kids. The Kids’ Fishing Lagoon (Lagoon #56 behind the Oakridge firehouse off Log Landing Road) always is open for Landing’s residents and their accompanied guests. And, yes, it’s okay to fish along with your kids!

Special Note: Thanks to The Landings Association (TLA) support and the efforts of several photographers, you can experience “Derby Happenings” and print out pictures of your choice by visiting www.landings.org/photo-gallery. Then select the Photo Gallery Tab on the right to view the 2022 photos. You can print the photos as well as save them by right clicking on the image and saving it to your pictures area of your computer. If you want a higher resolution copy of a photo, please email Security Office and TLA staff photographer Erica L. Kersey (thefocusedlily@gmail.com). Please include the photographer gallery as well as the file name.

Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) is a national organization which serves as the voice for the recreational angler. Locally, the Skidaway Island Chapter has informative meetings open to the public at 7 p.m., on the second Monday of each month at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, across from Publix in The Village.

Below are the 2022 Kids Fishing Derby winners.

First Fish Landed  

• Grady Armstrong (age five)    

Ages three-five

• Biggest Fish - Liam Ware (12 inches)                      
• Most Fish - Harris Lane (17 fish)

Ages six-eight

• Biggest Fish - Patrick McKinnon (13 inches)
• Most Fish - Jeff Sanders, Everson Bentley, Hayes Kelly (three-way tie of nine fish each)

Ages nine-11

• Biggest Fish - Leila Kubursi (11 inches)
• Most Fish - Kayden Hoover (17 fish)

Ages 12-15

• Biggest Fish - Hank Morgan (12 inches)
• Most Fish - Finn Dixon and Chris Hoover (tied with eight fish each)