COPPERAS COVE — Dozens of young anglers and their families came out on a beautiful Saturday morning to try their luck at the City Park duck pond at the annual Copperas Cove Park Fishing.
Most of all the fish caught are rainbow trout stocked by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as part of a program that TPWD sees releasing up to 40 million fish into about 100 public lakes, ponds and saltwater bays every year. According to TPWD, many of these fish come from the state’s three saltwater and five freshwater hatcheries.
One of the program’s goals is to provide “catchable-size fish for educational activities and community fishing ponds.”
One of those who hauled in fish on Friday was Jessica A. Baez, who recently moved to Central Texas. He learned about the opportunity to bring home a rainbow trout, and he came from Killeen, where he worked as a real estate agent.
“I like it,” he said, after landing a nice fish. “I’ve never fished for trout before, so I wanted to try it.”
Killeen resident Jessica A. Baez, who recently moved to Central Texas, shows off her catch Saturday at Copperas Cove’s annual Fishing in the Park
John Clark | Herald
Copperas Cove resident Gina Zachmann, also known as Grammy, was with her grandson, Waylon Zachmann, his father, Joseph Zachmann, and grandfather, Kurt Zachmann. This is the family’s first time trying Fishing in the Park and they are having a great time, he said.
“I think it’s awesome. We feed the ducks here, and usually go to the turtle pond and feed the turtles and stuff,” Grammy said. “Waylon loves to fish and he loves the outdoors. He loves to go and feed the turtles ( and) ducks — and try to catch the ducks.”
Meanwhile, Waylon was busy at the water’s edge carefully watching his line for signs of a strike.
“I want to feed the ducks … (During last year’s drought), there was no water and now there is water everywhere,” said the 6-year-old.
Five-year-old Justin Candelario and his brother Oliver, 3, fill a cooler while their grandfather, Martin Centunzi, helps and also tries his luck, while mother, Janille Candelario, help corral the youngsters and older brother, Jeremiah Edge, fishes nearby.
“I love it,” said Martin, a longtime fisherman also known as Pappa. “I come out here every year with the grandchildren. As the older ones get older and don’t want to do it anymore, I bring out the younger ones.”
Fishing in the Park includes a limit of five fish per person. Those 18 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license. Parents helping a child fish must also have a license, unless the child is old enough to fish alone without assistance.
Meanwhile, Cove fourth-grader Liam Vipperman was fishing with his grandfather, Rick Vazquez, his mother, Victoria Vazquez, and cousin Cristiano Blomquist. Liam said he was happy.
“Pretty good,” said the 9-year-old from Copperas Cove. “I like it. I caught a lot of fish.”
Mom said it was her first time at Fishing in the Park, and she was enjoying watching the kids.
“I love it,” he said. “My son was here a while ago with his grandfather. It’s fun (and) the kids are having fun.”
