Wholesome family fishing a Wellington holiday tradition

By BOB MARKEY II
Palms West Monthly
Posted Jan. 4, 2012

WELLINGTON — Forty-five children and their families spent the Saturday before Winter Break outdoors, catching fish as large as 18 pounds and winning trophies and prizes in the Children’s Holiday Fishing Classic at Lake Wellington.

The 21st annual free fishing tournament is organized by Christina Weber and family and volunteers, with support from the Village of Wellington, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and sponsors.

Toddlers to teenagers 15 and younger packed the circular village pier behind the community center trying their luck with live and plastic worms, bread and other treats.

The action heated up early with weigh-ins of a bunch of bream, tilapia and other panfish and highlighted by the catch of several huge grass carp – a duo weighing in at 12 pounds, 4 ounces and 18 pounds, 4 ounces. In the case of the smaller fish, it was almost as large as its captor, Alison Duchrow, 7, of Wellington.

Nicole Linn, 15, of Wellington caught the near-19-pounder, winning the biggest fish prize.

Maximo Roldan, 8, of Wellington was skunked, but his 11-year-old brother Lucas placed first in the Bluegill (ages 10-12) division with a 4-pound tilapia in their fifth year of the tourney. Living on a lake, the boys get plenty of practice, said their mother, Kathryn. Maximo once caught an 8-pound bass, his favorite fish.

“It’s an annual event,” Kathryn Roldan said. “We love to fish and they (organizers) do a great job.”

Other trophies, tackle boxes and other donated fishing gear were awarded for first, second and third place (based on the total weight of fish caught and released) in each age group: 6 and under; 7 to 9; 10 to 12; and 13 to 15. Every participant left with a Gambler Lures pack.

Liam, 11, brother Brian, 10, and dad Robert Stokes of Wellington covered the lakefront well but their only fish came too early. The talented bass and catfish anglers “caught one before (the tourney started),” said Brian, who has won a first place prize before. Liam has taken second and third places in the past.

Robert said the tourney timing was perfect. “I wanted something I could do with the kids.”

Jason Thomas, 8, of Whippoorwill Lakes, came with his father Chris and grandfather Gordon Paget for the first time.

“It’s awesome. Anything they do for the local kids is cool – especially when you keep it free for some of the kids who can’t afford it because of the economy,” Chris Thomas said. “It’s Dad, Grandpa and little guy – you know what I mean?”

Yes, the outdoors camaraderie and teaching of a wholesome sport is what the tourney has been about since it was started in 1990 by Tom Sawyer.

“I told this one mother – when her daughter caught a big grass carp – that kid will be hooked on fishing for the rest of her life. It’s an experience and a memory that they’ll cherish,” said Sawyer.

“The kids get so excited. I even get excited when the kids catch the fish. It’s nice to share the same feelings,” Weber said.

Weber, 22, first fished in the tournament “when she was a kid with her brother,” Sawyer said. “Her brother, Ryan Kenny, got a trophy and she didn’t and she has never forgiven me for that.”

“I was so mad at him (Ryan). He had it on his desk for like a year and I had to look at it. I was so mad and I never let Tom forget it,” Weber joked.

But she was hooked and can now often be found in her kayak bass fishing and is part of the angling industry.

The tourney had drawn as many as 142 children. The day’s drizzle probably cut the number, but Weber hopes to grow the event.

“Tom really did everything for me. He just kind of handed it to me,” Weber said. “I just want to reach more kids. Hopefully some day we will have so many that they need to build a new dock.”

“It’s nice to see it has been turned over to someone else that appreciates it and is going to get as much enjoyment out of it as I have,” Sawyer said.

“It’s been well taken care of. The community supports it. It’s been a lot of fun. The kids and the fish are the story.”