Youngsters 15 years of age and under are invited to enter the free 2019 Annual Fishing Derby on May 25, 2019, at Hokey Park located on Lehigh Street in Whitehall.

The derby is open only to children and is hosted by the Whitehall Township Recreation Department with sponsorship from Willie’s Bait & Tackle Shop in Cementon, who provides the prizes for the winners.

According to Michele Dragovits, Word Processing Secretary at the Whitehall Recreation Department, her department has hosted the fishing contest for over 40 years. And, it’s always held in Hokendauqua Park & Playground where a portion of the Coplay Creek meanders through it. The Park entrance is a short distance from the Whitehall Police Department office and at the overpass that is part of the Ironton Rail Trail. On a GPS, its address is 3417 Lehigh Street, Whitehall.

Approximately 100 trout from the Cedarbrook Nursery will be stocked for the event that gets underway at 9 a.m. and runs until 12 p.m. Registration is open from 8-8:45 a.m. on derby day.

First, second and third place awards will be awarded in four age groups of 6-and-under, 7-9, 10-12 and 13-15. Prizes will consist of an array of fishing tackle plus a special prize will go to the angler who catches the largest fish. Bait and tackle must be provided by the youth angler.

For questions, contact the Whitehall Township Recreation office at 610-437-5524, ext. 160. Or email them at recrdept@whitehalltownship.com.

SHAD REPORT

According to a recent Delaware River Shad Fishermen’s Hotline (610-954-0577-0578), the Delaware River dropped a bit last week, but was stained with a water temperature of 55 degrees. The hotline recommended anglers stick to shore and to areas where feeder streams enter the river. They also suggest using darts in black, blue and red because of the water conditions.

Mike’s Sports Shop in Nazareth reports shad anglers were crushing them earlier last week, before Friday’s rain. Good shad reports came from below Easton upriver to New York, but all were bucks and no roe. Shore anglers were throwing shad darts while boat anglers were using flutter spoons, both in chartreuse color. The largest shad caught as of last Thursday for the Bi-State Shad Fishing Contest, was a little over 5 pounds, Mike recalls. The contest began last Thursday and ended this past Sunday.

STRIPER REPORT

According to On the Water Magazine, big female stripers are being reported in the Delaware River, with anglers catching them on bloodworms, high-low rigs, on soft plastics and plugs. Most are in the 15- to 24-inch size, but there have been a few keepers mixed in. Some bass are being caught along the beaches as well. Northern New Jersey striper fishing has been on fire. Pre-spawn female fish from 15 to 40 pounds have moved into the area to stage before pushing into the Hudson River to spawn.