More than 100 participants cast their lines Saturday morning at Pacana Park for the Family Fishing Derby, part of Maricopa’s Stagecoach Days celebration.

The annual event brought young anglers and their families together for a morning of fishing and friendly competition, with participants competing in five age groups.

The city revived the derby last year as part of its effort to bring back Stagecoach Days traditions dating to 1958. After a positive response, the event returned this year alongside another longtime favorite, the Salsa Festival.

“By reintroducing these events, the city hopes to celebrate Maricopa’s history, reconnect longtime residents with familiar traditions and create new memories for the next generation,” said a city spokesperson. 

Here are this year’s top catches — and the kids who reeled them in.

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Ages 5–6

• 1st Place: Stetson Chintella
• 2nd Place: Zoey Taylor
• 3rd Place: Micah Jansen

Ages 7–8

• 1st Place: Diego Teran
• 2nd Place: Silas Johnson
• 3rd Place: Sam Sharp

Ages 9–10

• 1st Place: Santana Teran
• 2nd Place: Layla Burton
• 3rd Place: Noah Gomez

Ages 11–12

• 1st Place: Obadiah Jackson
• 2nd Place: Derick Bradoym
• 3rd Place: Akeeleez Duncan

Ages 13–18

• 1st Place: Elysia Kauffman
• 2nd Place: Dalton Elliot
• 3rd Place: Isaac Fuentes