As a crowd of anglers, families and environmental advocates gathered at the Walking Tree Brewery, they anxiously awaited the results of the 12th annual Lines in the Lagoon Junior Fishing Tournament.
The catch-and-release tournament was founded in 2014 by a group of boys and their mothers as a way to raise awareness about the health of our endangered Indian River Lagoon. By drawing attention to the lagoon’s declining conditions, event organizers hope to inspire today’s youth to become the environmental stewards of our waterways.
The tournament continues to bring together like-minded youth passionate about making waterways clean and safe for all marine life, as well as for recreational activities.
The lagoon, a biodiverse estuary that is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, serves as a crucial spawning ground for countless fish. However, threatened by pollution from stormwater runoff, septic systems and fertilizers, its health has recently been in decline.
“Welcome to the 12th annual Lines in the Lagoon Junior Fishing Tournament,” said Carrie Franco, LIL board president.
“What started as a small event has grown into a powerful force for good, and it’s all because of the young people here today and the community that supports them.”
Following a Captain’s Meeting at White’s Tackle the evening before the tournament, the young anglers had a seven-hour window to fish in the lagoon between the Sebastian and Fort Pierce inlets. Anglers could fish by boat, from a dock, seawall or the shore, and then submit their captures by photo. The catch and release format helps to promote environmental health by preventing overfishing.
“Over the past 12 years, Lines in the Lagoon has grossed $250,000,” said Franco.
She said funds raised are used to conserve our waterways through organizations such as the Coastal Conservation Association Florida and the Ocean Research & Conservation Association.
The young people also support the work of the ORCA Citizen Science program by catching fish to be measured and studied.
Data collected is used to assess the health of individual species and the lagoon’s overall ecosystem.
“We want to extend a very special thank you to our 2025 sponsors for this year’s tournament,” Franco added, referencing the community partners involved. “We could not host this event without their support, and we appreciate all of them.”
This year’s tournament saw 152 young anglers participate, resulting in more than 500 fish being submitted, including 19 redfish, 57 trout and 154 snook.
“Last year, we had 135 anglers with 265 fish submitted, with only two redfish, five sea trout and 62 snook,” said Franco, pointing out a marked increase, both in terms of anglers and fish caught.
For more information, visit linesinthelagoon.com.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
