Young Anglers From The Oranges Capture Prizes In County Fishing Derbies

ORANGES, NJ — Some youth from the Oranges now have a big fish tale to tell after landing a prize-winning catch in a county derby.

Essex County recently brought back its annual series of youth fishing derbies for 2025. Each contest was free and open to children ages 15 and younger.

Derbies took place at Irvington Park, Verona Park, Weequahic Park (Newark), Grover Cleveland Park Pond (Essex Fells/Caldwell), Monte Irvin Orange Park, Branch Brook Park (Newark/Belleville), and the South Mountain Recreation Complex (West Orange).

Winners from the Oranges this year included Sophia Owens from West Orange, who caught the most fish in the girls’ ages 6-10 category at the derby in Verona Park (see photo above).

Other winners included:

Benjamin Keane from West Orange caught the first fish in the boys’ category and the most fish in the boys’ ages 6-10 category at the derby in Verona Park.

Fiona Keller from West Orange caught the first fish in the girls’ category at the derby in Verona Park.

Kaila Weathers from Orange caught the first fish in the girls’ category and the most fish in the girls’ ages 11-15 category at the derby in Irvington Park.

Gabriel Levine from South Orange caught the most fish in the boys’ ages 11-15 category at the derby in Verona Park.

Gideon Gray from South Orange caught the most fish in the boys’ ages 6-10 category at the derby in Weequahic Park.

Malena Bagot from East Orange caught the most fish in the girls’ ages 6-10 category at the derby in Branch Brook Park.

Janae Mitchell from Orange caught the most fish in the girls’ ages 6-10 category at the derby in Monte Irvin Orange Park.

Kaila Weathers from Orange caught the first fish in the girls’ category at the derby in Monte Irvin Orange Park.

Iean Weathers from Orange caught the most fish in the boys’ ages 6-10 category at the derby in Monte Irvin Orange Park.

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