8th Kid’s Classic a Huge Success

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Marlin Club’s 8th Annual Kid’s Classic last weekend was a huge success with 334 junior anglers participating and over $4,200 raised for the Wish-A-Fish Foundation.

The annual event, open to all young anglers age 19 or younger, took place last weekend in the waters in and around the resort from the back bays to the ocean. With several categories, there were plenty of opportunities for nearly all of the competitors to get on the leaderboard in one way or the other. However, the big winner was the Wish-A-Fish Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing opportunities for kids to fish that might not otherwise get the chance.

In the Billfish Release Division, it was anglers James Doerzbach and Chandler, Leah and Sophia Anderson on the “Reel Chaos” taking first place with 400 points. Jake Shenk and Colton Kenney on the “Heavy Metal” finished second with 300 points, while Andrew Healey on the “Last Call” finished third with 100 points.

In the Tuna Division, it was angler Taylor McCart on the “Reel Joy” taking first place with a 54.6-pounder. Amber Underwood on the “Absolute Pleasure” took second with a 49-8-pound tuna, while Steven Johnson on the “Four Eights” took third with a 46.6-pounder.  In the Dolphin Division, Emma Helwig on the “Reel Fantasy” took first place, Connor Campbell on the “Reel Estate” took second and Rilyn Romero on the “Absolute Pleasure” took third. Mady Brinker on the “Carol’s Teakettle” took first in the Shark Division and Ben Hild on the “Espadon” was first in the Wahoo Division.

Closer to shore, Ashton Clarke on the “Ashy’s Boat” took first place in the rockfish division, followed by Spencer Paquette on the “Spring Mix” and Cooper Clarke on the “Ashy’s Boat.” Olivia Beard on the “Kimberly Ann” was first in the flounder division, followed by Jack Burbage from the Ocean City Guide Service and Andrew Healey on the “Last Call.”

In the Sea Bass Division, it was Alex Morton on the “Bertha” taking first place, followed by Caleb Bradford on the “Carol’s Teakettle,” Brooke Scubelek on the “American Lady,” and Mazie Brinker and Caleb Bradford on the “Carol’s Teakettle.” Cole Barrett took first place in the Spot Division, Haden Gracie took first in the Croaker Division, and Hugh Thomas Cropper swept the Bluefish Division.

Several young anglers turned in different species in the Most Unusual Catch Division including toad fish, blow toads, a black drum, several sea robins, bunker, a slew of silver perch, a pinfish, a handful of trigger fish, a sheepshead, a trout and even a hermit crab.