Bring your family to one of Delaware’s freshwater fishing ponds for the 2020 Youth Fishing Tournament. This year, it’s going to be a (semi) virtual event!

The annual Youth Fishing Tournament introduces the state’s young people to the sport of fishing, along with the catch-and-release approach to conservation.

This year, to avoid crowding at the three traditional tournament locations, the tournament will be held at more than 30 public ponds across the state as a fish-on-your-own, semi-virtual event limited to children accompanied by their parent or guardian. Participants and sponsoring parents/guardians must maintain social distancing from others not in their family unit by staying six feet (a typical fishing pole) apart, and must have a face covering that is worn if less than a six-foot distance occurs between individuals not from their family unit. Participants are encouraged to bring and regularly use hand sanitizer.

To participate, parents or guardians must register their families for the event and download the Hook’d App before the tournament date. It would be a very good idea to create an account on the app and try it out out before the tournament date. (Learn more)

The tournament is open to children ages 4 to 15. Families must fish at one of Delaware’s approved freshwater fishing ponds and report their children’s catch via the app. Bring your own fishing equipment and please maintain a proper distance from your neighbors.

Every registered participant will receive a prize. Trophies will be awarded to the participant who caught the longest fish in each category of species.

The tournament is sponsored by the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police. It is free and open to the public.