Essex County Fishing Derby Events – Free For Kids 15 and Younger – Baristanet

Get ready for Essex County’s 2021 Fishing Derbies! The free events will be held in six locations in the Essex County Park System.

“Our fishing derbies are an excellent opportunity for our children to enjoy the historic Essex County Park System in a different and fun way. You’ll have a great time creating your own ‘big fish’ stories and spending some quality time with your friends and family in some of the most beautiful parks in the area,” Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.said. “I invite everyone to come out, cast their lines, Experience Essex and take a look at the improvements we are making to revitalize our parks,” he noted.

Sponsored by the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, each derby is free and open to children ages 15 and younger. All children must be accompanied by an adult and bring their own fishing pole, bait, bucket and chair. Children are encouraged to bring their own fishing poles. Prizes in various age categories for catching the first and most fish will be awarded at the conclusion of each derby.

The fishing derbies will be held as follows:

• Tuesday, June 8th: Essex County Branch Brook Park Prudential Concert Grove, use Park Avenue or Clifton Street entrances, Newark. On-site registration begins at 4:30 p.m., the derby begins at 5:30 p.m. and awards will be presented at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 9th: Essex County Verona Park Boathouse, Bloomfield Avenue and Lakeside Avenue, Verona. On-site registration begins at 4:30 p.m., the derby begins at 5:30 p.m. and awards will be presented at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, June 10th: Essex County Weequahic Park Lake, Elizabeth Avenue and Meeker Avenue, Newark. On-site registration begins at 4:30 p.m., the derby begins at 5:30 p.m. and awards will be presented at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, June 12th: Essex County Grover Cleveland Park Pond, Brookside Avenue and Runnymede Road, Caldwell/Essex Fells. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m., the derby begins at 8:30 a.m. and awards will be presented at 10 a.m.
• Tuesday, June 15th: Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park Pond, Center Street and Harrison Street, Orange. On-site registration begins at 4:30 p.m., the derby begins at 5:30 p.m. and awards will be presented at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 16th: Essex County Irvington Park Pond, Grove Street and Lyons Avenue, Irvington. On-site registration begins at 4:30 p.m., the derby begins at 5:30 p.m. and awards will be presented at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, June 17th: Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex, Orange Reservoir, Paddle Boat area. On-site registration begins at 4:30 p.m., the derby begins at 5:30 p.m. and awards will be presented at 7 p.m.

For additional information, please call 973-268-3500. In case of inclement weather, cancellations will be posted on www.essexcountynj.org. Cancelled fishing derbies will not be rescheduled.