Kids Get a Chance to Go Fishing with Mobile's Top Cop

Jun 28th, 2007

Kids will be casting lines with the city’s top cop Saturday at the Mobile Police Department’s first annual fishing clinic organized by the Mobile Police Department and the St. Stephens Road Improvement Association. The program is open to youths ages 7 to 16.

The clinic is set for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 30 at the Davis Pilot farm on Eliza Jordan Road. Dozens of children will get instruction from Chief Phillip Garrett, along with another 10 expert anglers, many of them police officers. Celebrity angler Doug Houston will be participating.

Each youth will go away with their own fishing rod and tackle box.

"We want to do our part to give youths a constructive activity for their free time,” Garrett said.

The program is sponsored by the following community organizations: Academy Sports & Outdoors, Sourceone Solutions, Buffalo Rock Mobile, Springhill Seafood, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, St. Stevens Road Improvement Association, Commonwealth Bank, Winn-Dixie, businessman Davis Pilot and former TV host Doug Houston.

Youths will learn fishing safety, fishing techniques, equipment use and maintenance, and how to clean and cook fish. A competition will be held in three age groups.

A few openings are still available to youths who reside in the MPD jurisdiction. Anyone who wishes to sign up should call 470-7701. A signed permission slip from a parent or guardian is required.