By: Lauren T. Agnew
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs invite the public to participate in Essex County’s 2023 Fishing Derbies.
The free events will be held in seven Essex County Parks System locations.
“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,” DiVincenzo 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, May 16th: Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park Pond, Center Street, and Harrison Street, Orange. On-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m., and awards will be presented at 7:15 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 17th: Essex County 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 p.m.
- Thursday, May 18th: Essex County 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 7:15 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 23rd: Essex County Weequahic Park Lake, Elizabeth Avenue, and Meeker Avenue, Newark. On-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m., and awards will be presented at 7:15 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 24th: Essex County Verona Park Boathouse, Bloomfield Avenue, and Lakeside Avenue, Verona. On-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m., and awards will be presented at 7:15 p.m.
- Thursday, May 25th: Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex, Orange Reservoir, Paddle Boat area. On-site registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 p.m., and awards will be presented at 7:15 p.m.
- Saturday, June 3rd: Essex County Branch Brook Park Prudential Concert Grove, use Park Avenue or Clifton Street entrances, Newark. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m., the derby begins at 9 a.m., and awards will be presented at 10 a.m.
For additional information, please call 973-268-3500. In case of inclement weather, cancellations will be posted on www.essexcountynj.org. Canceled fishing derbies will not be rescheduled.