Kids interested in getting out of the house and learning how to fish will get the opportunity to do so, as well as getting to spend some quality time along the coastline, on Saturday, courtesy of the fine folks at Sea Rim State Park.

Sea Rim State Park is hosting their 4^th annual Kids Fish Event from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Aug. 27 on 19335 State Hwy 87, Sabine Pass. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Entry is free and the first 180 kids will get a free fishing rod and reel and event T-shirt. Tackle and bait will be provided, as well as a free lunch. The event is open to children ages 1 through 12.

“It’s the fourth year we’re doing it,” said Nathan Londenberg, superintendent for Sea Rim State Park. “We’re anticipating around 200 kids this year.”

The event is designed to get kids outdoors, have a fun time and introduce them to a broader range of activities than they may be used to.

“Right now, our biggest competitor is Xbox and PlayStation,” Londenberg said. “We’re trying to get people outdoors. We want to give them something they can learn and take with them. Sometimes parents may not have the time or ability to teach them fishing and outdoor skills.”

The act of getting kids excited and out of the house is one that Londenberg sympathizes with and thinks is vital to the longevity of the park.

“It’s important to get kids outdoors because they’re the future …

“As an agency, we’ve seen a decline in Texas state parks and fellow hunters and fishermen. So we have programs like these to try to entice kids to get acquainted with the outdoors and teach them some outdoor skills. Something they can learn and take with them. Hopefully, they’ll come back to enjoy the parks.”

Londenberg added, “Obviously, there’s the concern for our agency to continue, for our agency to continue to have people to support us.”

If attendance for last year’s event is any indication, however, then that concern may be at least partly mollified.

“Last year was really awesome — 122 kids came out,” Londenberg said. “Overall, they caught almost 200 fish in two hours.”

Londenberg said he hopes that the annual event will raise interest among children.

“We want to get people excited about fishing, get kids excited about fishing,” Londenberg said. “It would be great if we could get kids saying, ‘I enjoyed this. Mom, Dad, can we go fishing next time?’”

The park superintendent wanted to be clear, though, that a person could enjoy fishing anywhere, not just at state parks.

“We try to get children excited about fishing, about hunting, about the outdoors.

“We want them to create a stewardship — for outdoor recreational activities, for conservation needs — and to give them opportunities to create partnerships in the community as well.”