The three most vital issues for any Key West child are a fishing rod, some bait and a complete lot of sunscreen. On April 26, children of all ages gathered at White Avenue Pier and solid their traces for the fifth annual “Reelin’ for the Trigger” children’ fishing match in honor of Harrison Axel Esquinaldo and Max Thomas Scanlon.
Six years in the past, Cassandra Scanlon misplaced her child boy, Max Thomas Scanlon, as a consequence of an umbilical twine accident.
Dealing with the fact that each mom fears essentially the most, Cassandra was misplaced and heartbroken. Feeling as if she had nobody to speak to, a mutual buddy launched her to Alicia Esquinaldo, who three years prior had misplaced her child boy, Harrison Axel Esquinaldo, to a congenital coronary heart defect. The 2 shortly bonded over the shared tragedy that shattered their households.
With a friendship shaped, the pair sought a technique to honor the legacy and reminiscence of their youngsters. Alicia and her husband, Harrison Esquinaldo, personal a fishing rod firm in Key West — and thus, “Reelin’ for the Trigger” was born.
“We wished to do one thing that we thought we’d be doing with our boys,” mentioned Alicia Esquinaldo. “That’s why we began the fishing match. We all know it’s one thing they might have beloved.”
Alicia and Cassandra have raised over $175,000 for Nicklaus Youngsters’s Hospital via Reelin’ for a Trigger.
This yr, 250 younger anglers registered for the occasion. It ran from 5 to 7:30 p.m., and included a DJ, meals vehicles, snow cone distributors, BBQ stands and a silent public sale. All proceeds went on to Nicklaus Youngsters’s Hospital — the identical hospital that after admitted child Harrison and now has a room devoted in his honor.
“We’re not good at asking for cash,” mentioned Cassandra Scanlon. “However with this occasion, the neighborhood simply steps up and our match registration often sells out shortly.”
Although the wind beat down on the pier fairly laborious, contestants have been ready for something. Buckets of bait have been scattered alongside the pier, alongside sort out containers, rods and funky refreshments that folks sipped, in between casting traces for his or her children.
One dad, whereas hooking bait on his son’s line, was requested if he was utilizing dwell bait. Garbed within the conventional long-sleeved shirt, sporting sun-bleached hair, a beard, and an American flag bandanna, he mentioned, “Oh heck yeah; we’re attempting to win.”
For the youthful, much less affected person fisherkids, an academic aquafarm was arrange on the finish of the pier the place they might take a look at dwell sea creatures comparable to seaward, green-striped hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, porter spider crabs and the Florida orange sea star.
The younger anglers competed in three age teams; there additionally was a prize for the most important shark.
Strolling across the occasion, you possibly can really feel the thrill from the children, the mother and father and everybody concerned.
Reelin’ for a Trigger was the right mixture of neighborhood camaraderie and pleasant competitors. The fish — and the anglers — could have been a bit undersized, however the smiles within the crowd have been record-breaking.
Ages 3–5
1. Lawson Samaniego
2. Rhynn Perry
3. Jesse Hammers
Ages 6–8
1. Elliot Cottar
2. Royce Perry
3. Cora Moeller
Ages 9–13
1. Ryder Smith
2. Peyton Lowe
3. Lola Smith
Largest Shark
Royce Perry