WOODLAND PARK, N.J. — Another city has honored New Jersey B.A.S.S. Nation member Antonio “Go Go” Gomez for the time he has spent teaching local kids about fishing.
During a ceremony held in his honor in February, Gomez was lauded by Mayor Keith Kazmark for his community service to Woodland Park and a poster of Gomez with his boat was hung on the wall at city hall. Gomez was also invited to participate in the city’s parade to celebrate its 100th anniversary in May.
For the past 11 years, Gomez has worked with the city holding either fishing derbies or clinics. He said the fishing derbies usually held in May attract 50 to 80 of the city’s kids. During the city’s annual summer camp, Gomez holds fishing clinics in which he talks about the basics of fishing, safety tips and conservation.
“I teach every kid the right way and the safe way to fish,” he said.
Gomez also participates in all of the city’s holiday parades and tows some young celebrities in his boat then. “The winners of the fishing derby get to ride in the boat,” he said.
In addition to introducing kids to fishing in Woodland Park, Gomez has conducted fishing derbies and clinics in the New Jersey cities of Clifton, Paterson, Little Falls and Newark. A photo of Gomez also hangs on the wall of Clifton’s recreation department’s main office in honor of him running the city recreation department’s kids fishing clinic and contest for the last nine years.