Fin-tastic Youth and Teen Fishing Tournament in Lakewood Ranch

By Liz Ramos
| 11:15 a.m. October 5, 2024

East County
Neighbors

Lakewood Ranch 14-year-old Kevin Anderson has participated in the Youth and Teen Fishing Tournament for seven years.

Anderson has fished at Lake Uihlein several times, the last being in August and he caught five fish.

Yet, year after year at the tournament, he came up empty.

But during this year's tournament Oct. 5 at Lake Uihlein, Anderson's luck changed.

He reeled in a 15-inch largemouth bass with 15 minutes left in the tournament.

Anderson smiled as he held the fish in his hands while waiting for a volunteer ranger to measure it.

As soon as the measurement was done, Anderson returned to the lake and cast his line.

Within three minutes, Anderson was speedily reeling his line in once again, but at the last second, the fish broke free.

"It took everything," he said looking at the cut line on his pole.

There was still 10 minutes left in the tournament, so Anderson was quick to fix his fishing line, put on bait and get his line back in the water with hopes of capturing another fish.

Ed Catalane, a volunteer ranger, helps Lakewood Ranch 8-year-old Avery Green work on his casting technique.

Lakewood Ranch's Kevin Anderson celebrates catching his first fish after seven years of participating in the Youth and Teen Fishing Tournament.

Orlando 10-year-old Parker Ramos shows off his catch. The Youth and Teen Fishing Tournament is a tradition for his family. His 20-year-old brother Peyton Ramos participated in the tournament when he was a child.

Lakewood Ranch 8-year-old Avery Green, his dad, Steve Green, and 13-year-old brother Ashton Green are new to fishing after moving from New Jersey to the area three months ago. Steve Green says the tournament will become a new family tradition.

Lakewood Ranch 13-year-old Maurizio Fornieri says patience and perseverance are key when fishing.

Sarasota 13-year-olds Matt Pirogov and Cru Raines help each other clear their bait and lines so they can continue fishing.

Mill Creek's Lindsey Carr helps her 9-year-old daughter Joslyn Carr cast her line. "It's a nice rest from all the storms. We want to enjoy it while it lasts," Lindsey Carr says.

Mill Creek's Jackson Flora already caught a 13-inch fish and hopes to catch another during the tournament.

After seeing a fish jump in the water, Mill Creek's Jackson Flora runs to cast his line to where he saw the fish.

Lakewood Ranch 9-year-old Jeffery Welch and Rob Paul participate in their first Youth and Teen Fishing Tournament.

Lakewood Ranch 11-year-old Andrew Baker and 10-year-old Brad Olinger spend time fishing side-by-side during the tournament.

Parrish's 13-year-old Allison Raia and 11-year-old Liam Raia and Lakewood Ranch 13-year-old Brayden Sharp and David Sharp find a spot to themselves on Lake Uihlein to fish. Brayden Sharp caught a 15-inch fish.

Lakewood Ranch 13-year-old Brady LaPalme fishes with his dad, Darren LaPalme. They were lucky and caught a fish before the tournament started but hadn't had much luck an hour into the tournament.

Taylor Miller, an 8-year-old visiting from St. Petersburg, prepares his bait and fishing rod.

Lakewood Ranch's Jack DeLeon sits back and watches his 8-year-old grandson Taylor Miller, who is visiting from St. Petersburg, try to catch a fish. "I hate fishing. The things you do for your grandson," DeLeon says with a laugh.

East County 11-year-old Jaydyn Boucher has been fishing since she could hold a fishing rod.

East County's Maverick Boucher, who is 15, has caught three fish so far in the Youth and Teen Fishing Tournament. "I happen to get the little spots no one has fished yet," he says.

There aren't just fish found in Lake Uihlein.

Holden Lake, who is 8, participates in the tournament with the help of his grandfather, Myakka City's Harry Traylor. "He's really taken an interest in fishing, so we're encouraging that," Traylor says of Lake.

Volunteer ranger Chris Armstrong measures Orlando 10-year-old Parker Ramos' fish. Four minutes later, Ramos caught another fish.

Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club volunteer ranger Chris Armstrong measures a largemouth bass at 15 inches.

Lakewood Ranch's Kevin Anderson patiently waits as volunteer Chris Armstrong measures Anderson's fish.

author

Liz Ramos

Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.