Marina del Rey Anglers Club has teamed up with Marina Del Rey Sportfishing to spearhead a youth fishing day on the docks. "This is something that hasn't been tried in a long time and we are hoping to introduce kids to the enjoyment and responsibility of ocean fishing", says Joshua Gerson of the Marina del Rey Anglers Club. "If the youth of today do not get involved with outdoor activities such as ocean fishing, the resources our city has set up for them, will cease to exist. We are hoping that parents will see how safe and easy it is to get their kids fishing".

The Youth Fishing Day is scheduled for Saturday June 25th, 2011 from 9am-12pm at Fisherman's Wharf in Marina Del Rey. The wharf offers 2 hours of free parking and Rick Oefinger President of Marina Del Rey Sportfishing will be allowing the use of his dock, along with rods and reels and even bait to allow kids to try it out. Rick is a huge fan of youth fishing. "Fishing, if nothing else, provides wholesome outdoor recreation for people of all ages. Programs such as this demonstrate that opportunities abound right here close to home, and with as simple and efficient a rig as a hand line, one can participate without need for costly gear and equipment."

Along with hands-on fishing, there will be education on what species are safe to keep, what the legal size of certain species are, how to tie fishing knots, and how to safely release fish that will not be kept.

Other local fishing groups such as the Los Angeles Rod and Reel Club and United Anglers of Southern California will be pitching in to help and some of our local tackle shops, manufactures and anglers will be pitching in to help make this a successful and informative day on the dock. Okuma Performance Tackle will be donating rods/reels for the youth that participate to use.

Anyone 16yrs or older, that fishes, will need to be in immediate possession of a valid California Fishing license or purchase one at the dock that day. One Day licenses are about $15.00 and available on site.