On Saturday, June 7th from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (rain or shine), Howell Township is hosting its annual Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs at Echo Lake, 1225 Maxim-Southard Road in Howell.  The free event is held in conjunction with Baxter’s Fishing Derby and NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife’s statewide Free Fishing Day.

Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs offers youth ages 5 to 16 a relaxed and enjoyable day in nature alongside family and friends. Youth who are new to and experienced with fishing can register at 8 a.m. the day of the event, right at Echo Lake.

Participation is free and includes…

• free fishing for adults and youth
• 6 youth learning activity stations
• fishing bait (mealworms and night crawlers)
• a grab-and-go breakfast and picnic-style lunch
• give-aways (including a nylon drawstring bag for the first 100 youth who register)
• trophies and prizes

The six learning activity stations teach participants about the following skills: lures; knot tying; bait selection; fish identification; hooks, rigs, and fish release; and making positive choices. Youth must complete the 6 learning-based activities prior to filling out their registration form. Last year’s event had over 200 people in attendance.

This event is made possible through Howell Township, the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, and community sponsors dedicated to enhancing the lives of youth, including the Howell Alliance, Howell Optimist Club, Spring Lake Fishing Club, NJ PAALS, the Baxter family, and Saker Shop Rite.

This year marks Baxter’s Fishing Derby’s 20th anniversary and Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs’ 10th anniversary.

For more information, contact Steven Fecher, Community Relations Director, at 732-938-4500 ext. 2106, or [email protected].

Event Type	Family Fun
Age Groups	Children Adolescents
Community Services	Community Community Education
Health Services	Behavioral / Mental Health Mental Health Substance Use / Addiction
Payment Types	Free
Areas Served	Monmouth County

Last Updated: 05/05/25