On June 6, 2025, at the Holiday Inn in Cicero, New York, sixteen families, including 26 children aged 6 to 16 and their parents or guardians, gathered for a delicious smorgasbord dinner. Overflowing with excitement, the children eagerly engaged with their captains, asking countless fishing-related questions, and the captains happily embraced the opportunity to answer them. The room was filled with the vibrant energy of the children; their lively conversations and laughter created a warm and memorable atmosphere.
Early the following morning, everyone gathered in the hotel parking lot, their faces bright with smiles and excitement in the air. They eagerly watched as police vehicles and fire trucks from Cicero and Brewerton arrived. The children were thrilled to learn that they would be riding in one of the emergency vehicles to Oneida Shore Park.
The parents got into their cars and formed a line behind a patrol vehicle, followed by four fire engines, an ambulance, and four additional fire trucks. Bringing up the rear was another police SUV.
After the families arrived at the dock, they were greeted by their captains, fitted with life jackets, and given fishing rods. They posed for a group picture before boarding their boats. Micah Lucas, 12, sang a beautiful rendition of the national anthem. The sixteen boats then sped away from the dock to their captains’ favorite fishing spots. The children’s faces lit up with joy as they reveled in the thrill of the boat ride, a moment that will surely be cherished for years to come. With rain in the forecast, the captains and their families realized they would not be able to fish for the entire scheduled time, so they needed to focus their efforts on catching as many fish as possible.
Sixteen-year-old Elijah was on Captain Bob Hulchanski’s boat and shared his fishing experience: “I knew there was a fish on my line because I felt a tug. I pulled, and as I started reeling it in, I could tell I had a fish because it felt heavier. We had to use a net to get it into the boat since it was too heavy to lift in by the line. The fish measured 20 inches. Everyone on the boat cheered for me, clapping and saying, ‘Great job!'”
Captain Jason Powers took 9-year-old Austin and his aunt Kat out on his boat and shared, “We caught a 30-pound carp, three sheepshead between 4 and 6 pounds, and a 34-inch northern pike weighing between 9 and 10 pounds. We also caught a perch, a walleye, and a pickerel. It was Austin’s first time fishing from a boat, his first time catching any of the fish we reeled in today, and his first experience fishing on Oneida Lake. One of the best moments was when his aunt was struggling to reel in the big carp; she was screaming and laughing because it was putting up such a strong fight, and she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to get it into the boat. I’ve been part of this event since it started, and I love seeing the kids’ excitement when they catch big fish. It’s a rare experience for them. My favorite part is helping families and kids catch fish they normally wouldn’t be able to.”
Eleven-year-old Nikolai went fishing with Captain Carl Esner and exclaimed, “I caught so many fish—a smallmouth bass, a sunfish, a walleye, and I can’t remember the others. My favorite was the sunfish because it looked so cool! The first time I caught the sunfish, it snapped my line. Then Carl got me a new line. When asked what he enjoyed the most, he said it was being on a boat for the first time.”
Max, who is 13 years old, went fishing with his younger brother, Nixon, their parents, and their captain, Dale Gillette. He shared, “We caught walleye, two perch, and bluegill, and we kept them all. I caught a 22-inch walleye.” For Max, the highlight of the entire experience was the thrill of fishing itself.
Captain Hope Pragacz participated in the event for the second year. She had two young girls on her boat: Brooklyn, age 10, and Madelynn, age 8. Hope shared that it was the first time on a boat for one of the girls. When asked about their catch during the trip, she smiled widely, her eyes sparkling, and replied, “We had a whole lot of fun!” Brooklyn added that her favorite part was when Captain Hope let her drive the boat, saying, “It was exciting! I would love to fish with her again!”
Captain Guy Cromp stated, “I have been part of this fishing trip for nine years and have never missed an event. Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces is what keeps bringing me back. When they get out on the water, breathe in the fresh air, and catch fish, their confidence grows, which is fantastic to witness. At first, they are nervous, but once they catch a fish, their excitement lights up the day. My family and I had a great time catching over 30 fish, including walleye, bluegills, bass, and pickerel. Mason, who is 12, landed his first fish and was thrilled. He caught two 4-pound bass and another fish in just five casts. The smiles on these kids are what it’s all about. They leave with fishing rods and valuable knowledge to share with others, surrounded by positive people. I always remind the kids that the best people you can find are those who volunteer.”
Eleanor and her six-year-old children, Eamon and Gabriella, had an unforgettable time fishing. She shared, “We caught three pickerel, each of varying sizes. Captains Eric, Lloyd, and Rick were all very nice, and we plan to take the fish home to cook for dinner. It was a wonderful experience. My children have never been on a boat or gone fishing before, and we are looking forward to fishing again.”
Captain Eric Wisniewski added, “It was an absolutely fantastic day for Eamon and Gabriella, as well as for us captains. The weather was beautiful in the morning. The boat launch was nice, and the lake was a 9 out of 10 in terms of calmness—no waves and no wind, which made the boat ride enjoyable for the kids. The boat also went fast, which they loved. Unfortunately, we had a batch of weather come through around 10:30 AM, and we had to head back in. Despite that, it turned out to be an outstanding day overall—a success. The best part was when the fish came to the boat; it was pure pandemonium!”
We thank Keith Houser and the staff for their outstanding work coordinating this event. We are also grateful for the dedication and hard work of the captains, first mates, and volunteers, including Chief Steve Rotunno, Chief Jon Barrett, and Captain Mark Sposato, whose unwavering efforts contributed significantly to the tremendous success of this event.
Additionally, we are grateful to the Cicero Police Department, Cicero Fire Department and Brewerton Fire Department, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Onondaga County Parks, Villa Barone Hilltop Manor, Holiday Inn Express, Walleye Wednesday, Lakeside Outfitters, Reworld, Soco Baits, Morgan’s Bait, Toss & Fire Wood-Fired Pizza, Limp Lizard, McDonald’s, Subway, and USSA’s New York Chapter for their donations and financial support.
Congratulations to all the families, captains, and first mates on their excellent catch of a variety of fish and unforgettable memories. God bless!
If you are interested in getting involved or know of a deserving child or veteran, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].