MITCHELL’S BAY – Nine-year-old Abby Raes had a beaming smile on her face after hauling in a large fish during the annual Bob Izumi’s Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire Fishing Derby held here Saturday.
The Chatham girl said the sheephead, caught at the Mitchell’s Bay Marina, is the first big fish she has ever landed.
However, she said it was “not that hard” to catch her big fish.
“I could fight him,” Abby said.
Her brother Keegan Raes, 12, caught a bass and two catfish.
Keegan, who has participated in the derby a number of times, said, “I like it a lot, it’s fun.”
The Chatham-Kent Police Service partners with Mitchell’s Bay Marina to host the derby.
“It’s a great event,” said Const. Todd Trahan.
He said the derby is popular, adding about 175 kids were registered.
“Every year the numbers seem to grow,” the officer said.
Trahan said the kids bring their own fishing gear and get a gift bag when they register.
The top prizes are pretty impressive, including bicycles and an Xbox.
Trahan said they try to make sure every kid gets a prize.
“This is actually the highlight of our summer,” said Nicole Okrucky, manager of the Mitchell’s Bay Marina.
“The kids make our day,” she added.
Participants also get a special privilege.
“We don’t normally allow kids to fish in the marina,” Okrucky said, adding some of the boaters come out to help.
She noted one of the kids hauled in an eight-pound catfish from the marina.
Chatham-Kent firefighters were out helping and Trahan said other enforcement agencies are invited to participate including conservation officers with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forest, the Ontario Provincial Police and summer students with the Canadian Coast Guard.
Trahan said it is a fun community event for local officers to be involved with.