ANGLERS OF ALL ages gathered at Stockton’s Oak Grove Regional Park at 6 a.m. Saturday to catch some trout from the 10-acre lake.
San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation, with support from the Delta Fly Fishers, organized the 38th Annual Trout Bout. The annual event is the first of two derbies that the county parks and rec department organizes during trout season.
“It’s a wonderful event. It’s a great event for folks who never learned to fish or who want to teach their children to fish,” said Sandra Costa-Adams, from San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation. “We’ve had quite a few young anglers cut their teeth on (Oak Grove) lake.”
Hailey Dutra, 9, is surprised to hear her name in the list of winners during the 38th Annual Trout Bout at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2022. Dutra, whose trout weighed 2 lb, 4 oz, placed second in the category for 9-12 year-olds. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local) 
Hailey Dutra, 9, has her trout weighed during the 38th Annual Trout Bout at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2022. Dutra, whose trout weighed 2 lb, 4 oz, placed second in the category for 9-12 year-olds. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local) 
Fishers gather around Oak Grove Lake during the 38th Annual Trout Bout at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2022. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local) 
Randy Baxter, of Delta Fly Fishers, helps Humera Ali weigh her trout during the 38th Annual Trout Bout at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2022. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local) 
Luis Jimenez tries to unhook a fish during the 38th Annual Trout Bout at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2022. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local) 
A Trout caught on a fishing line makes a splash in the Oak Grove Lake during the 38th Annual Trout Bout at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2022. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local) 
Tim Chan, of Stockton, takes part in the 38th Annual Trout Bout at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2022. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local) 
Margarita Loyola fishes for trout during the 38th Annual Trout Bout at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2022. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local) 
Bryan R., of Lodi, unhooks a fish during the 38th Annual Trout Bout at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2022. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local) 
Bryan R., of Lodi, catches a trout during the 38th Annual Trout Bout at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2022. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local) 
A Moscovy takes a swim in the Oak Grove Lake at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton, Calif., on Nov. 12, 2022. San Joaquin County Parks is hosting the 38th Annual Trout Bout at the park on Nov. 19, starting at 6:15 a.m. Everyone is welcome is fish from the 2,500 lbs of trout planted prior to the tournament. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local) 
Haven Thal, 7, fishes for Trout during the 38th Annual Trout Bout at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2022. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local) 
Participants of the 38th Annual Trout Bout cast fishing lines into the Oak Grove Lake at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2022. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local)
Stockton dad Cheng Thal brought his two sons to the derby. “I wanted to get my sons outside for some fresh air and outdoor activity. Fishing is a good way for them to get away from video games,” he said, chuckling.
Costa-Adams said organizers planted about 2,000 pounds of fish.
“We’ve got a lot of folks out here — probably about 500 to 600 folks — for the derby,” Costa-Adams said. “We’ve had some larger fish caught this year; some real big, trophy size fish.”
Bee Xiong caught the biggest fish of Saturday’s event, hauling in one weighing 8 pounds and 11.6 ounces, nabbing first place in the adult category.
Malachi Webb won first place in the 8 and under category, with a trout weighing 2 pounds, 0.5 ounces. Cassiana Calvin placed first in the 9 to 12 division, with a trout weighing 2 pounds, 10.4 ounces.
Harika Maddala is a photojournalist based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. They are a Report for America corps member and a CatchLight Local Fellow.
