Mariana and Kayla Negron PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

Giggles of glee and squeals of delight (plus a few pouts over the ones that got away) emanated from nearly 100 children who had been treated by members of the Kiwanis Club of Vero-Treasure Coast to Take a Kid Fishing, a free morning of fishing fun.

Their poles at the ready, the contingent of eager young anglers – ages 4 to 12 – lined the fishing catwalk under the Barber Bridge, all hoping to catch ‘the biggest fish ever.’

Despite minor trepidation over baiting the hooks with pieces of raw shrimp and touching what they’d landed, qualms were quickly overcome with every nibble. In many cases their parents and grandparents were equally thrilled by the morning’s activities.

Fishing chairman Tom McMahon organized the event this year, leading a team of some 30 Kiwanians who arrived in the pre-dawn hours to get everything in order and put out the rods and reels they were providing. During the event, volunteers were kept busy refilling cups with bait donated by Vero Tackle and Marina and measuring the catches for much coveted prizes.

“This is what it’s all about. I love hearing this. It just doesn’t get any better,” said longtime Kiwanian Al Sammartino, watching as one little girl excitedly exclaimed, “I got a crab! I got a crab!”

As another little boy dangled his catch by the measuring table, Sammartino glanced over and said, “That kid must have caught seven grunts.”

Sammartino said they are actively encouraging greater participation in Kiwanis youth clubs: K-Kids, for kindergarten to fifth grade; Builders Club, sixth to eighth grade; and Key Club, high school students. Many of the younger club members participated in Take a Kid Fishing, while the older ones were helping out.

“So our goal is, we’re trying to get a club in every school,” he explained.

Youth clubs are involved with community service projects, including beach cleanups and helping out at local schools and nonprofits such as Shining Light Garden.

“We had 35 little kids doing beach cleanups. I think what people don’t realize is that when you take a kid at this age and you have them go on the beach and pick up trash that isn’t theirs, they’ll never throw another piece of trash on the beach again, because they know who’s going to have to pick it up,” said Sammartino.

Take a Kid Fishing was all catch-and-release, but nobody went home hungry, as boxed lunches and pizza were given to children and adults alike.

Take a Kid Fishing is one of many annual community service events hosted by the local Kiwanis Club, founded in 1973. They also organize fundraisers so they might provide volunteer and financial support to civic projects and local nonprofit organizations.

For more information, visit VeroKiwanis.com.

Photos by Joshua Kodis