Daniel Island Kids Fishing Tournament to return for 8th year

Eight years ago, a young mother asked Daniel Island Inshore Fishing Club member Fred Danziger why no events that encourage children to fish existed on the island. Realizing that she was correct, he decided to propose an idea for a kids fishing tournament to the club.

“I asked the club if they would they be interested in organizing such a tournament and I would take the lead on it,” said Danziger, who currently serves as the Daniel Island Kids Fishing Tournament Committee Chairman. “There was no hesitation about the club doing that. Everybody was in favor of it and thought it was a great idea…I had no knowledge of doing something like that—how to organize it. I just thought it was a wonderful idea.”

As a child of age 4 and 5, Danziger’s father would let him tag a long on his fishing trips, he continued. Today, at age 74, the memories are alive and well.

“I still have fond memories of my 5- and 6- year-old days, when I fished with my father,” he said. “They never go away. They’re just special memories.”

By continuing to organize the Daniel Island Kids Fishing Tournament each year, Danziger explained that he hopes to create the same kind of lasting memories for the children and their families.

“While the fishing tournament appears to be for the child entering, it’s all about quality time spent with each other,” said Danziger. “…It’s a lifelong memory for the child in the family, this tournament. They will remember it and they will somehow turn back to it as a meaningful experience in their life.”

Set to take place on June 16 at Smythe Park Lake beginning at 9 a.m., the tournament is open to all Daniel Island residents and all who work on the island, according to the tournament’s rules and regulations. Children ages 4 to 15 who are related to individuals or families who reside or work on the island may participate as “anglers” in the tournament. Anglers must be accompanied by one or more adults who must register and be responsible for the child at all times during the tournament.

Pre-registration is $5 per angler and will be open until Friday, June 9. Contact Danziger at fred.danziger13@gmail.com for a registration form. On-site registration will be available the day of the event beginning at 8 a.m. for $8 per angler.

Awards will be given out for largemouth bass, panfish and mullet caught in two age groups, 4 to 9 and 10 to 15, “Mystery Fish” and any tagged largemouth bass caught by any aged angler, according to the registration form. It is also important to note that all fishing is catch and release.

A total of 21 prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the tournament, explained Danziger. The grand prize for the longest fish, not including the “Mystery Fish” category, caught during the tournament by any angler is a half-day charter for the child and an adult with Captain Greg Peralta.

“We’ve never had lower than 80 kids sign up, so there’s a one in four chances for someone to get one of the more substantial prizes,” said Danziger.

Although every angler cannot win an award the day of the tournament, when a child registers, they are given a goodie bag filled with various items supplied by the sponsors and donors of the tournament, added Danziger.

“The moment the child signs up, they’ve already won,” he said. “That was something I really wanted to focus on. Right away, they’re going to go home with something just for the registration itself. There are some small things and bigger things—lures, fish hooks, floats and fish charts.”

For more information about the tournament, contact Danziger at 516-524-2208 or the email listed above.