KINSTON, N.C. (May 19, 2016) — Neuseway Nature Park and Neuse Sport Shop will co-host a free fishing event on June 4 from 9 a.m. to noon for children ages 15 and younger at the park’s main pond that features a floating fish feeder, fishing pier and stocked catfish. 

The event is one of 40 kids’ fishing events supported by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, in partnership with Neuse Sport Shop, Trout Unlimited and the U.S. Forest Service, to celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week 2016. 

The events, which are held throughout the state each year from late May through early June, are listed on the Commission’s website, alphabetically by county.  

Young anglers registered at any of these fishing events can enter a statewide drawing for a chance to win one of more than 150 fishing-related prizes. The grand prize is a lifetime sportsman’s license, which includes freshwater and saltwater fishing privileges, as well as hunting privileges, donated by Neuse Sport Shop, located in Kinston. The first prize is a lifetime freshwater fishing license donated by the N.C. State Council of Trout Unlimited. 

Neuse Sport Shop also is donating tackle boxes, rod-and-reel combos and fishing line. The Wildlife Commission is contributing additional prizes, such as fishing hand towels, fish-themed playing cards and mini-tackle boxes. 

The Wildlife Commission will conduct the drawing for prizes at the end of June and will publish a list of winners on its website, www.ncwildlife.org, in July.

To give children a better chance of catching fish at the June 4 event, the Wildlife Commission will stock catfish in Neuseway Nature Park’s main pond on June 2. In addition, Wildlife Commission staff will give free fishing grab bags to children participating in the June 4 event. Commission staff also will have a limited number of free loaner rods and reels for people to borrow, as well as basic tackle such as hooks, sinkers and bobbers. Participants need to bring their own fishing bait. 

Neuseway Nature Park is located at 401 W. Caswell Street in Kinston, Lenoir County.

For more information about National Fishing and Boating Week 2016, visit the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s website, www.takemefishing.org. For more information about fishing in public, inland waters, visit www.ncwildlife.org/fishing.