Newark Youth Come Out On Top At County Fishing Derbies

NEWARK, NJ — Several young anglers from Newark recently showed off their skills at a series of county-sponsored fishing derbies.

The county holds a series of fishing contests for local kids and young teens every year. This year, derbies took place at Irvington Park Pond, Monte Irvin Orange Park Pond, Grover Cleveland Park Pond, Weequahic Park Lake, the Verona Park Boathouse, South Mountain Recreation Complex (Orange Reservoir) and Branch Brook Park.

Niearelyn Frias of Newark caught the most fish in the girls’ ages 11-15 category, as well as the first fish in the girls’ category at the Essex County Fishing Derby in Irvington Park. She caught the first fish at 6:06 p.m. and reeled in a total of five fish (see photo above).

Other winners from Newark included:

Khalil Abdullah from Newark caught the first fish in the boys’ category at the derby in Irvington Park. He landed his winning fish at 6:01 p.m.

Immaculee Holland from Newark caught the most fish in the girls’ ages 1-5 category at the derby in Irvington Park.

Jesulayomi Bakare from Newark caught the most fish in the girls’ ages 6-10 category at the derby in Irvington Park. She landed six fish.

Chad Samkaran from Newark caught the first fish in the boys’ category and the most fish in the boys ages 11-15 category at the derby in Branch Brook Park. He caught the first fish at 9:04 a.m. and landed a total of nine fish.

Zen Smith from Newark caught the first fish in the girls’ category and the most fish in the girls ages 1-5 category at the derby in Branch Brook Park. She caught the first fish at 9:45 a.m. and landed a total of three fish.

Michael Thompson from Newark caught the most fish in the boys ages 6-10 category at the derby in Branch Brook Park.

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