Art Clark Scrap Fish Derby reels in a line of happy kids

"How long it's been going? Since I was a 3 year old, I think," said Jamie Stough, 38, one of the volunteers running the Art Clark Scrap Fish Derby. "My parents started it. They did it as a tribute to Art Clark, the old carver in town, and since then we've been doing it. My family was finally going to give it away to somebody else this year and I was like, 'Nope! I'm taking it.'"

The derby was held off of the City Dock on July 2. Kids ages 6 to 13 were invited to come out, throw a line off the summer float, and see what they could catch.

And there were plenty of interesting catches. Kailyn McCutcheon, 11, caught an old piece of pipe with several starfish hanging on to it. Annika Gillen caught a piece of coral.

Griffey Angerman, 8, caught the first fish of the derby: A 1-pound, 8-ounce flounder. Marcus Ostrander, 11, caught the first fish of the derby for his age category, a 1-pound, 6-ounce flounder.

Of course, not everyone had great luck, and there were a few mishaps. Everett Edens, 10, lost his weight and hook when they slipped off his line. But he took it in stride, getting back into the competition quickly with a replacement line.

"That's pretty much all you can do," he said.

Another mishap saw Lucas Stearns, 11, slip off the summer float and fall into the water. He was joined by his friend Ryder Ritchie, 10, who decided to jump in after Lucas for a quick swim. They both made it around the float to a ladder and climbed back on deck.

The competition was divided into two age categories, 6 to 9 and 10 to 13. Stough credited his family and all of the volunteers for their help in putting the derby together and for pulling it off so smoothly.

The results of the derby are:

Ages 6 to 9

Largest catch with fins: Christina Benson, 2 lbs. 9.6 oz.

Largest crab: Keian Young, 2 lbs. 2.8 oz.

Largest bullhead: Teegan Kuntz and Faber Young, 9.1 oz. each.

Largest flounder: Griffey Angerman, 1 lb. 8 oz.

Largest perch: Lily Stearns, 1.2 oz.

Largest sea cucumber: Caleb Fortunato: 8.4 oz.

Strangest catch: Annika Gillen, a piece of coral.

Ages 10-13

Largest catch with fins: Johanna Sanford, 1 lb. 10 oz.

Largest starfish: Elissa Roundtree, 6.3 oz.

Largest crab: Delilah Clark, 1 lb. 3.1 oz.

Largest bullhead: Elissa Roundtree, 13.4 oz.

Largest flounder: Peyton Young, 1 lb. 8.7 oz.

Largest perch: Mildred Silve, 2.9 oz.

Strangest catch: Kailyn McCutcheon, pipe with three starfish.