HOW TO DO IT: Patrolman Richard Carr teaches children the finer points of fishing at “Casting With a Cop” held at the community dock on Saturday. Seventy-five children enjoyed the day, which organizers hope will become an annual event. (Photo provided)
With the first “Casting With a Cop” fishing event on August 24th at the town dock, a new late summer tradition has apparently been established in Barnegat Township.
This event was made possible through a collaboration between the Barnegat Police and Recreation Departments, as well as the Association of Surf Angling Clubs and the American Angler LLC Fishing Club.
Brandy Hillegass, ASAC member and event coordinator, said 75 youth ages 5 to 13 participated in fishing and crabbing for about two hours, encouraging positive interactions and building relationships with local law enforcement.
“In addition to fishing and crabbing, there was lunch for the children, as well as awards and raffles,” said Hillegass. “This free event also included three learning stations for the children. At these stations, the children were able to learn how to cast a line, tie their own fishing knots and how to bait their own hooks.”
Police and volunteers from the American Angler Club were on the dock helping and cheering the children on as they pulled fish and crabs to shore. More than 30 fish were caught.
She said the first 25 children in line received a surf rod and reel, while the next 20 received crab traps.
Hillegass said there were also special visits by the Barnegat Volunteer Fire Department with a fire truck, and members of the Barnegat First Aid Squad also showed up with a vehicle.
“The U.S. Coast Guard brought their own gear for the kids to try on,” she said. “The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department came by with two K-9 units and a mounted unit. Rita’s of Manahawkin had free ice cream for the kids and a visit from the Lakewood (Jersey Shore) BlueClaws mascot rounded out the day. Each child went home with an event t-shirt and a 5-gallon fishing bucket that contained a small backpack of fishing supplies and a coupon for a free ice cream cone. With such overwhelming success, we are really looking forward to hosting this event again next year.”
“I want to extend my sincerest thanks to the officers, volunteers and sponsors who helped make our Casting with a Cop event at the public dock such a resounding success,” said Police Chief Jason Carroll. “Events like this truly demonstrate the importance of community partnerships. The hard work, dedication and generosity of everyone involved helped create a fun and positive experience for our local youth. These moments allow us to build meaningful relationships with the children in our community and show them that our officers are not only there to enforce the law, but also to support and build a connection with them in a positive, lasting way. I am proud to be part of a department that values these partnerships and understands the importance of fostering trust and cooperation within our community.” —EE
