NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

CONTACT: Bill Pouder (850) 265-3676

MARCH 20 IS SIGN-UP DAY FOR KIDS FISHING EVENT AT BLOUNTSTOWN

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the University of Florida's Sam Mitchell Aquaculture Demonstration Farm in Blountstown are working together April 1 to accommodate 400 youngsters for Kids Fishing Day.

FWC fisheries biologist Bill Pouder said kids 15 years of age and younger can participate but they must be pre-registered by a parent or guardian calling the Commission's Panama City office beginning March 20 at 8 a.m. He said a total of 200 kids will be allowed to fish in the morning from 9 - 11 a.m. and another 200 in the afternoon from 1 - 3 p.m.

Channel catfish have been stocked in the ponds and each child that fishes will be allowed to take home five fish. Families should bring along coolers with ice to preserve their catch.

"The kids will need a rod-and-reel or a fishing pole and whatever kind of bait they want to use," Pouder said. Recommended baits are frozen shrimp, chicken livers and live worms.

He said a parent or guardian must be present at all times and they can be responsible for no more than two kids. As a safety precaution, he said no one will be allowed to fish with multiple hooks, such as treble hooks. The Sam Mitchell Aquaculture Demonstration Farm is located roughly eight miles north of Blountstown on State Road 69. The FWC's Panama City office number is (850) 265-3676.