STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

More Fishing and Boating

• On the Hook: Sweet fishing moments
• Securing boats when hurricanes threaten
• Fishing report: Fay's effects giving way to great fishing

Share and Enjoy [?]

There weren’t too many stories about the fish that got away on Sunday as young Marco fishermen hauled in the loot for best fish caught in the Marco Island Fishing Derby, sponsored by the Marco River Marina on the weekend.

In every category an islander won top prize.

Two fishermen, Michael Lawrence, 13, and Taylor Weiss, 8, won in two categories.

Lawrence reeled in a 2-pound-6-ounce pompano and a 1-pound-1-ounce trout.

“I really enjoy fishing,” Lawrence said. “It is the excitement, about not knowing whether you will catch any fish at all, but I do catch fish all the time.”

Weiss was a bit shy talking about the fish she caught, but wasn’t as shy when she hauled in the prizes for the largest snapper, 1 pound, 15 ounces and largest grouper, 6 pounds, 12 ounces.

Her mother, Mary, didn’t let the biggest fish get away, bringing in a 26-pound-10-ounce cobia.

AJ Parker, caught the largest red fish at 6 pounds, 8 ounces.

Cheyenne Naftal, 19, is headed off to Florida Atlantic University, able to tell her big fish story of bringing in a 6-pound-9-oounce triple tail.

Marco’s John Vitiello was second in the pompano class with a fish of 1 pound, 3 ounces, followed by Marco’s Nick Thorstenson with his fish weighing in at 1 pound, 3 ounces.

“It was a great two-day event,” said Peter O’Brien, organizer of the tournament. “I didn’t want a giant tournament, just one that kids could have fun and generate interest in fishing. Some of the entries came from Miami, Hollywood, Naples and Marco.”

Tackling manufacturers, Calcutta Mirrolue, Falcon Rods, DOA, and Shakespeare provided the prizes.

Bryan Fluech, Collier County Sea Grant agent, talked about fishing and fish safety. The tournament was a catch-and-release event