Let’s go fishing in Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The county’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs invites the public to participate in Essex County’s 2018 Fishing Derbies. The free events will be held in various locations in the Essex County Park System. 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. 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:

  • Thursday, May 3, at Grover Cleveland Park Pond, Brookside Avenue and Runnymede Road, Caldwell/Essex Fells — on-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m. and awards will be presented at 7:45 p.m.;
  • Thursday, June 7, at Irvington Park Pond, Grove Street and Lyons Avenue, Irvington — on-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m. and awards will be presented at 7:45 p.m.;
  • Thursday, May 17, at Verona Park Boathouse, Bloomfield and Lakeside avenues, Verona — on-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m. and awards will be presented at 7:45 p.m.;
  • Thursday, May 24, at Weequahic Park Lake, Elizabeth and Meeker avenues, Newark — on-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m. and awards will be presented at 7:45 p.m.;
  • Saturday, June 9, at Monte Irvin Orange Park Pond, Center and Harrison streets, Orange — on-site registration begins at 8 a.m., the derby begins at 9 a.m. and awards will be presented at 11:15 a.m.; and
  • Thursday, June 14, at South Mountain Recreation Complex, Orange Reservoir’s paddle boat area — on-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m. and awards will be presented at 7:45 p.m.

For additional information, call 973-735-6228. In case of inclement weather, cancellations will be posted on www.essexcountynj.org. Canceled fishing derbies will not be rescheduled.