Reeled in

Marisa O’Neil

A group of young anglers reeled in some big ones and got photos to

prove their fish stories are true.

The fishing class, through the city of Newport Beach, took 25

students between the ages of 7 and 12 to the shores of Newport Harbor

on Friday morning. There, they learned to catch bait, hook up and

reel in a fish.

“It was really cool,” 8-year-old Wade Munger said.

Wade has some prior fishing experience with his father, but for

many of the other students, it was the first time up close and

personal with a live fish. Fishing instructor Scott Matthews, who has

taught the one-day class for the past 18 summers, said that most of

the students get hooked on fishing after their lesson.

“The kids love it,” he said. “So many of the kids say they would

fish every day if they could.”

On Thursday, the aspiring anglers dug in on the harbor-side beach,

just across from Bay Island. They caught a total of nine halibut and

one spotted bay bass.

Students learned the best fishing spots and how to catch their own

smelt to use as bait. They tossed some bread in the water, got a net

around the bait fish them and pulled them into the bucket.

“They really get a kick out of seeing us catch the smelt,” he

said.

All the rest of the fish they caught returned to their watery

homes.

The biggest fish, Matthews said, put up quite a fight. It pulled

the rod out of its holder on the beach and got tangled in another

line. When they pulled the rod back in, a 24-inch halibut was at the

end.

Student Zack Devick reeled in that fish, the whopper of the day.

He put it in a tank to show off to his grandmother, but later let it

go for another fisherman to catch.

Wade caught the biggest fish of his career -- a 20-inch halibut --

but let it go as well.

“I didn’t really care,” Wade said. “At least I got a picture of

it.”

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at [email protected].