3,400 Kids Fish at Outdoor Expo in Arizona

More than 3,400 children took part in the popular kids fishing tank experience at the 2013 Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo March 22-24.

After three days of fishing, more than 80 percent of the kids caught and released a fish. For many of the kids, it was the first fish they had ever caught. Shouts of glee kept erupting as the feisty bluegill were lifted from the tank and then released in a pattern that repeated itself thousands of times.

Cameras, smartphones and cell phones were used to capture images of this fun and memorable family experience. Over the weekend, 60 department employees and volunteers worked in unison to assist the kids in catching fish and ensuring they had a great time.

But the 4,500 bluegill were the stars of the Expo. At the end of the busy weekend, the sunfish were loaded and delivered to Encanto, Steele Indian School and Cortez lakes.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is a state agency of Arizona, headquartered in Phoenix. The agency is tasked with conserving, enhancing, and restoring Arizona's diverse wildlife resources and habitats through aggressive protection and management programs. It also provides wildlife resources and safe watercraft and off-highway vehicle recreation for the enjoyment of, appreciation by, and use by present and future generations.