Anglers from the tallest to the smallest gathered Saturday at Q.V. Sykes Park for the 2025 Meridian Parks and Recreation annual kids’ spring fishing rodeo for a wild ride.

 

The lake had been stocked with more than 750 pounds of catfish that were definitely biting. Children vied for prizes for the most fish caught and the biggest fish caught.

 

Children ages 5 to 17, who followed older relatives like little ducks in a row, carried their own poles and bait in hopes they’d wrangle with catfish wanting to go home with them.

 

Within seconds of the event starting, Zyon Curtis of Meridian High School pulled in the first fish. He’s been enjoying this fishing event since … always, so he knows what he’s doing.

 

“I’ve been coming since I was little,” he said humbly. “I like it because when you get a bite, it’s fun. You get a fish and it calms your nerves, you know?”

 

Once Curtis got the hook out of the first catfish, it wasn’t long before he had his line back in for another try. Within five seconds, he pulled out his second fish, and all eyes were on him in adoration and awe.

 

Alicia Jordan celebrated with Curtis over his haul.

 

“I’ve been with the city for 10 years, but this event’s been going on since before then,” she said as she joined a group gathered around the boy with his fish. “It gives the kids the opportunity to come and enjoy nature, to enjoy the natural things that Earth has to provide. They get to come out into the sun, relax, have fun and maybe learn a new technique.”

 

Jordan said that usually around 300-400 kids come to fish, and after the event ends at 11 a.m. the community is welcomed to join in on the fishing.

 

But every year there is also a secret event the Parks and Rec people love to see. “Every year it seems a kid will come with a tag from last year,” Jordan said. “The color of the tag shows which year that fish was stocked into the lake. This year the tag was red, last year was white.”

 

And wouldn’t you know it, about then, a little angler about waist high to an adult reeled in a tagged fish. “It’s got a tag! It’s got a tag!” someone yelled. Parks and Rec folks ran over to see, gleeful to check the tag color. The little angler soaked up the attention, cheeks red with praise.

 

Tags are just the icing on the cake to the children. Everyone just wanted a chance. Just one bite.

 

Across the lake, but in different spots, squeals of excitement flowed over the water back toward the main pavilion.

 

“Got one!” was heard, but then came a few more “We got one too!” and the race was on.