Sixth Orange County District Attorney’s Office Youth Fishing Derby begins April 1

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler on March 6 announced the launch of the sixth Orange County District Attorney’s Office Youth Fishing Derby. The derby will run from April 1 through September 14 and is open to children between the ages of four and eighteen who are children or grandchildren of Orange County residents.

The Youth Fishing Derby is part of District Attorney Hoovler’s Community Outreach Program. This contest began during COVID and continues to help young anglers make good choices today. Participation in fishing is popular with New Yorkers since it is an activity that can be enjoyed at almost any age, outdoors with friends and family. The Youth Fishing Derby will encourage the youth of Orange County to participate in an exciting outdoor sport that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. Remember, any size fish entered in the contest, big or small, has an equal chance of winning a prize for the contestant.

Entry into the Youth Fishing Derby is free. All fish entered in the contest must be legally caught from anywhere in New York State. Contestants must adhere to all current New York State fishing regulations. Fresh and saltwater fish are eligible to be entered into the contest. To enter, email a photo of the contestant holding the fish, as well as the child’s first name and an adult contact phone number, to dafishingcontest@gmail.com. Each angler can enter up to three fish photos during the contest, to have multiple chances to win. Ten winners will be drawn at random from all entries received during the contest dates. Each angler is limited to one prize package. All photos entered in the contest become the property of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Youth Fishing Derby.

Each winner will receive an Orange County District Attorney’s Office limited t-shirt and a Mystery Tackle Box Bass Fishing Kit. The first winner drawn will also receive a $100 gift card. Prizes can be picked up at the District Attorney’s Office by the winners in Goshen or will be mailed to them at the conclusion of the contest.

“Good luck to all our young anglers this year,” said District Attorney Hoovler, “and I hope that you enjoy your time in our great outdoors. Please always remember to be safe! Wear a life vest when in a boat or near deep water. Be careful with hooks and other sharp items. Look where you cast and behind you, to avoid hooking someone by mistake. Remember sunglasses protect your eyes from both the sun and from hooks that might pop loose from a hooked fish. Remember good anglers don’t litter, because it hurts our wildlife habitat and can lead to the loss of public access to fishing. Have fun and stay safe, and maybe I’ll see you on the water this year!”