Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department's Annual Small Fry Fishing Derby Brings Out the Budding Anglers to Reel Them In

CHATHAM, NJ -- After hearing about Ford Cairns' enthusiasm for fishing, it wasn't a surprise to learn that the 4-year-old had reeled in the biggest catch among the boys at the annual Small Fry Fishing Derby sponsored by the Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department over the weekend.

"Most kids watch cartoons, he only watches shows on catching, cleaning and cooking fish," Patrick Cairns , Ford's father, said.

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Ford's catch weighed in at 2 pounds, 9 ounces.

"This was the greatest weekend he's ever had," his father said. "He only talks about fish and fishing. He also eats everything he catches. He knows what he's having for dinner tonight."

According to Colin Kidd , the fire department's co-chair of the event with Dave Allan , Kelley's Pond, located behind Milton Avenue School, was stocked with more than 300 rainbow trout purchased from the Musky Trout Hatchery.

The largest fish hooked for the entire weekend was by 6-year-old Hana Abden , which tipped the scales at 3 pounds, 4.5 ounces.

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"I never caught a fish before, it was my first," she said.

The Abden family has made the Small Fry Fishing Derby an annual tradition since moving to Chatham. Hana's father, Mahmoud, set up his daughter with "Powerbait" for the big catch. Hana informed her father that she felt something on her line, but he initially thought it was just the fishing weight.

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