Hope Shine, Kelly Della Porta, Carrie Franco, Jennifer Nye and Chloe Nye. PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

Youthful organizers of the 11th annual Lines in the Lagoon Junior Fishing Tournament cast a wide net in their efforts to raise awareness of the declining health of the Indian River Lagoon while at the same time providing their peers with a way to become involved in saving this rare, natural resource.

Young anglers demonstrated their commitment to the environment and sustainable fishing practices as they fished from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. by boat and from docks, seawalls and the shoreline of the Indian River Lagoon between the Sebastian and Fort Pierce inlets. And with each baited hook, the catch-and-release tournament not only reeled in fish, but also new environmental stewards.

“Our goal is to get kids out on the water to see firsthand what’s going on and getting more involved with organizations like ORCA [Ocean Research & Conservation Association],” explained Carrie Franco, board president of the nonprofit.

Proceeds from the tournament will directly support the programs of other organizations focused on education and conservation efforts to improve the health of the lagoon and the ocean, including the Ocean Research & Conservation Association and the Coastal Conservation Association.

Lines in the Lagoon also supports their efforts by engaging local youth as participants in waterway cleanups, catching fish and collecting samples for ORCA’s Citizen Scientist program, adopting a spoil island, and joining in on other environmental efforts.

“Over the last 11 years, Lines in the Lagoon has grossed $200,000 to be donated,” said Franco during the awards ceremony.

The 156-mile-long estuary, designated an Outstanding Florida Water and Estuary of National Significance, was once considered one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America, and is home to 53 threatened or endangered species. The lagoon’s ecosystem, with its 685 species of fish, 370 species of birds, 2,200 animals and 2,100 plant species, is a vital part of our environment.

During the awards ceremony at Walking Tree Brewery the 135 anglers celebrated their “catches of the day” – a total of 267 fish – with prizes awarded based on photographs that had been taken before the fish were released back into the lagoon.

Cannon Arnold took home the title of Grand Champion with an accumulated snook total of 80 inches.

For more information, visit linesinthelagoon.com.

Photos by Joshua Kodis