14th Annual Gage Ochsner Kids Fishing & Water Safety Event 

The weather was fine, and the fishing was, too!

September often brings stormy weather to our coast, but it always brings the Gage Ochsner Kids Fishing & Water Safety Event to Tybee Pier and Pavilion.  This annual favorite sees hundreds of children come out with their families to take part in water-related educational activities and (hopefully) catch some fish.  Many of the children come back year after year.

Chatham County’s Aquatic Center produces the free event, which is named for Dr. Gage Ochsner, an avid fisherman as well as a local trauma surgeon dedicated to preventing childhood injury. Memorial Health, where Dr. Ochsner was on staff, has been closely tied to the event from the beginning.  It is an event with a purpose -- to teach kids how to safely enjoy activities on or around the water.

Two active storms off our coast made for some concerns the day before, but Imelda and Humberto made nothing but beautiful skies the day of the event.  Everybody fished and everybody had a great time> 

Chatham County Parks & Recreation’s Park Ranger, Brent Newman, cracked open a big box of real binoculars for kids to scan the horizon for ships, dolphins, and birds. Very special thanks to the Tybee Pier bait shop who provided additional gear and bait for kids. Free lifejackets were the uniform of the day for kids who were learning to be safe around the water, and free hotdogs from the Tybee Pier Riptide Grill were a hit with hungry little fishers.

And as always, thanks to activities and support from terrific community organizations like the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, the GA Department of Natural Resources, Safe Kids Savannah, Fight Dirty Tybee, Savannah Power Squadron, and Tybee Island Marine Science Center, the event was exciting, fun, and educational for all from beginning to end. 

Mary Ryan Aimar, Chatham County’s Aquatic Center manager, is understandably passionate about water safety.  You’ll catch her on the pier every September, closing out the summer with this big bash where kids learn a lot, have a ton of fun, and fall hook, line and sinker in love with fishing and being on the water.