Wish-A-Fish Event a Huge Success on the Bay

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Central
Location: Sandy Point State Park

Saturday�s Wish-A-Fish event was a huge success at Sandy Point State Park with about 60 kids and their families onboard 40 boats provided by volunteer captains and mates. This 10th anniversary occasion was the complete fulfillment of a dream hatched by Rod Rice where big-hearted anglers would give families that shoulder the challenges of raising a child with special needs a break from the grind through a day of fishing. All-in-all there were about 120 guests who went fishing equipped with gear, snacks, sodas, and good cheer provided by volunteers and generous sponsors including Windows Catering (lunch), Tochterman's (tackle boxes), Warren's Bait Box (bloodworms), Marty's in Edgewater (rods and reels), AllTackle (gift certificates for the captains) and others.

I was on hand with the DNR-Fisheries booth and trinkets to support the event and to handle a simple raffle to advance one lucky angler to the Maryland Fishing Challenge Grand Finale ceremony, which will be held in conjunction with the Maryland Seafood Festival on September 11.

Wish-A-Fish is a heartwarming event fueled by big ideas, generous people, and captains who certainly know how to catch fish. Everyone caught plenty of fish including stripers, blues, croakers, perch, and spot.

One young angler brought along a clicker to track his score and tallied more than 50 fish!

For more information go to www.wish-a-fish.org.