Teaching Kids How to fish!

MDRA hosted this "Kids Free Fishing Day on the Docks" to teach elementary and middle school age kids the basics of fishing from docks and piers.

Read about the event of
 - Saturday June 25th.

It was a great successful day for the kids. Many of whom will look back on this as their first fishing experience. A very big Thank You goes to Joshua Gerson of MDR Anglers for putting this together. And to Marina Del Rey Sportfishing for hosting. And to OKUMA who donated the rods. And to West Marine.  And to the Volunteers.

New! a "How to Brochure" for kids about fishing from local docks, piers and shore fishing.  We are looking for sponsors to fund the printing of this brochure for the kids summer program.

Summer Youth Fishing Program:

Happy first time fishing memories

Lots of youth all around Los Angeles have little or no interaction with the sea.  Some rarely come to the beach.  We work hard at getting kids out fishing.

Marina Del Rey Angers works hard to enrich the lives of youth from all over los Angeles by taking them fishing for one day for FREE.

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The Halibut Derby Funds the Youth Fishing Program and the Conservation efforts of the Marina Del Rey Anglers.

Read about the
MDR Halibut Derby

A typical fishing trip looks like

from July 11th 2007

The Betty-O and Caption Mike
Driving the boat and caring for the many kids is Mike Rensch the owner and operator of the Betty-O.

His site is Betty-O Sportfishing.

Caught a Yellowtail
Read about a trip in 1998.

1999 outings had 512 kids and one of the trips looked like this...

Read the Press Release from 1999.

In the summer of 2001 we were able to pay for and man enough trips to take over 1,200 kids fishing for free!  What Great experiences were had by the mentors (MDRA member volunteers) and the needy kids who have a really special trip to remember.

It is hard to maintain that level of volunteer time and commitment from the mentors.  It is a lot to coordinate that many youth organizations to show up and fill the boat.  Now we mostly take approx. 600 to 900 kids per summer out on the Betty-O.  Typically around 12 to 14 days worth of trips.  Two trips on each of those days.

We appreciate the support of sponsors like Mercury Marine and sustaining sponsors who have given to the Halibut Derby each year.  And the support of the thousands of anglers who show up and participate in the derby every year.  Thank you to all.

Lots more to come.