Howell Township Hosts Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs and Free Fishing Day on June 6^th!

On Saturday, June 6^th from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (rain or shine), Howell Township is hosting its annual Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs at scenic Echo Lake, 1225 Maxim-Southard Road in Howell.  The family-oriented event is held in conjunction with Howell’s Baxter’s Fishing Derby and NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife’s statewide Free Fishing Day. Last year, over 150 community members and volunteers participated in the fun-filled 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 on-site at 8 a.m. the day of the event.

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 learning activity stations teach youth the following skills: lures; knot tying; bait selection; fish identification; hooks, rigs, and fish release; and positive decision-making. Youth must complete all of the learning-based activities prior to filling out their event registration form.

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, PAALS, the Baxter family, and Saker Shop Rite.

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	Arts & Recreation Recreation / Social / Sports
Payment Types	Free
Areas Served	Monmouth County

Last Updated: 05/19/26