Janice Hahn's Office Teams Up With Marina Del Rey Anglers for Kids Fishing Trips
There were screams of joy and happiness as kids from the Watts area in Councilwoman Janice Hahn's district pulled on fish after fish on a recent successful deep sea fishing trip hosted by Marina Del Rey Anglers. The kids boarded the Betty-O out of Marina Del Rey and immediately knew they were in for a good time. They were intrigued by the dead squid and live sardines swimming in the bait tank, thrilled watching the hungry sea gulls and pelicans hovering for a free meal, laughed at the loud lazy sea lions basking on the MDR breakwater and the younger sea lion pups frolicking and barking in the water. As if by magic, dozens of dolphins appeared at the mouth of the Marina and delighted the children, many of whom had only seen flipper on TV or at a marine park. MDRA mentors were peppered with questions about sharks, pirates and mermaids.

Many of Hahn's kids had been fishing before but some had never been on a boat and some had never seen the Pacific Ocean. Hahn's staff organized and scheduled kids from several non profit children's groups in the 15th district including The Watts Gang Task Force, The Watts Grief Counseling Center and other agencies helping kids in their community. The idea and concept was hatched at a meeting in Marina Del Rey between Erika Velazquez and Eric Brown on Janice Hahn's staff and Larry Brown, a director with Marina Del Rey Anglers. Hahn's office was looking for ways to immerse kids from District 15 into safe, healthy, outdoor and alternative experiences and Brown promised to introduce them to kids fishing programs including Los Angeles Rod and Reel Club, 976TUNA Youth Fishing and of course his club's long term MDRA Youth Fishing Program. "My friends at LARRC, 976TUNA and MDRA all really came through and showed these kids a great time, said Brown. They rallied and added these kids to their already busy schedules and full budgets."

Marina Del Rey Anglers is a local recreational fishing club. "We are a non profit organization whose long term mission has been to take kids fishing," said MDRA president, Ken Raymond. Jeff Morris and Terrie Lavery run the MDRA Youth Fishing Program. Morris said, "our goal is to host about 800-1,000 children from at risk communities on half-day ocean fishing trips every year." The number depends on fund raising which is getting more and more difficult these days. The major fund raiser for MDRA is the annual MDR Halibut Derby the club has been hosting for over 35 years. The entry fee is augmented by a huge super raffle with valuable merchandise and prizes donated by fishing tackle manufacturers and local merchants, who understand the importance of taking these kids fishing.

These trips are a great way for kids to experience the wonders of the ocean and take them out of the stress and realities of their environments, even if just for the day. Each trip is accompanied by four or five MDRA club members who serve as mentors, teaching the children the basics of ocean fishing and marine conservation. Community service organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy and Girl Scouts, LAPD Activity League, LA Sheriffs Youth Groups, Churches, City and County Youth Shelters and others are invited to send twenty-five to thirty-five children on one of the trips. The club also hosts kids from the Braille Institute and Mychal's Learning Center, which cares for children with Downs and Autism.

The kids from Janice Hahn's district had a great time. Every kid caught fish. Some kids were bragging about catching 10. But every kid was taught the importance of conservation. Every fish was carefully released back into the ocean. Each child receives free snacks and drinks and is told how important it is to hold on to and dispose the wrappers. The kids were told how fish, sea birds and turtles suffered painful deaths by eating plastic wrappers, bags, styrofoam bits and cigarette butts confusing them as sources of food. Off in the distance we saw the Hyperion water treatment plant and we explained how the city was cleaning up waste water but not city run off and how trash, fertilizers, pesticides and other poisons were pouring into the ocean and killing sea life.

The members of Marina Del Rey Anglers are proud to provide this wonderful worthwhile community service. Marina Del Rey Anglers hope they are pointing the way to wholesome, healthy angling for many Southland youths. MDRA invites local businesses, corporations and agencies to help fund these trips. For further information about MDRA or the MDRA Youth Fishing Program contact Larry Brown at 310/578-2288 or lmbrownxx@earthlink.net