Time to test your fishing skills

STAFF REPORT

Today Oasis State Park will host an event that will bring families together while instilling valuable skills in children and offering cash prizes, according to Park Technician Valerie Russ.

File photo

The eighth annual “Biggest Catfish Challenge” Derby will take place today from 5-9 p.m. at Oasis State Park. Participants can register from 3-7 p.m. Up to $100 in prizes will be offered for the largest catfish caught.

The eighth annual “Biggest Catfish Challenge” Derby will give participants the chance to win prizes of up to $100 for the largest catfish caught, said Russ.

“Prizes will be awarded immediately after the derby’s over for the winner of the junior category and the adult category. The junior is 15 years old and younger, and adult is 16 years and older. There’s a first, second and third place for both categories. First place will win $100, second place $75, and third place $50,” she said. “That goes based on the weight of the fish. There will also be door prizes given throughout the derby as well. It will be tackle boxes, nets, stuff like that.”

According to Russ, Oasis holds the event to help people become more acquainted with the park.

“The park is something that’s been here since the ‘60s, and we have a lot of people come in and say, ‘Well, we’ve lived here forever but we’ve never come out.’ So this is a chance to get people out to the park, for them to know that it’s here,” she said.

The derby, Russ said, also brings families together by nurturing a love of fishing as well as a competitive spirit.

“The parents can teach the kids. We’ve got a lot of families that come out and fish. They bring the kids, they teach them. It gets them out of the house, away from the TV, away from all the electronics and stuff. It just gives them time to bond,” said Russ. “I’ve got a friend, her and her daughter, it’s a rivalry when they come out here to the derby. It’s on for weeks before they even get out here. It’s just a good family event.”

Registration for the derby will be held from 3-7 p.m. today at Oasis State Park, with the Derby itself being held from 5-9 p.m.

There will be a $5 entry fee for the derby per person, in addition to a $5 vehicle entry fee for non-annual pass holders. Participants in the derby will be limited to two fish per person.

Participants 12 and older must possess a valid New Mexico fishing license.