They may not have hooked a big one, but plenty of youngsters caught some free lunch and prizes Friday as the Gloucester Police Community Impact Unit celebrated the end of the season for its Kops ‘N’ Kids Youth Anglers Program.
The program pairs Gloucester youngsters with police officers in the pursuit of saltwater fishing, and to break down barriers between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.
The top-five biggest fish were caught by:
— Carter Wall, 32 inches and 12.2 pounds.
— Riley Santorello, 27 inches, 9 pounds.
— McKenzie Swain, 26.5 inches, 7 pounds.
— Lilly Muise, 26.5 inches, 6 pounds.
— Nico Parisi, 26 inches, 8 pounds.
Winning a prize for hooking the smallest fish, 19 inches and 3 pounds, was Morgan Smith.
Local businesses stepped up and donated prizes as giveaways for the cookout held outside the Harbormaster’s Office at Solomon Jacobs Park on Harbor Loop.
Sponsors and donors for this summer’s program were:
— Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker and his office.
— The Gloucester Fund.
— North Atlantic Pacific Seafood — NA Fisheries.
— Fisherman’s Wharf Gloucester LLC.
— Christian D Landscaping.
— Sunny’s Beer Wine & Premium Cigars.
— Aiello Landscaping and Excavating.
— Extreme Truck & Auto Repair.
— Campbell Funeral Home of Cape Ann.
— Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.