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Hundreds of children and their parents lined up along the Bridge Marina today for a fun day out fishing.

Blue Light's Kids Gone Fishing day Tauranga coordinator Wendy Nicholls says as many as 700 children and their parents packed their fishing gear and turned up to the annual event.

Arataki rugby team members Zenith Taihia, 9, Rhyley Makatoa, 10, and Hohaia Keogh, 9, enjoying catching fish. Photos: Zoe Hunter.

'It went well. We managed to do the event, get packed up, and everyone home just before the rain,” says Wendy.

'There was a couple of starfish caught, a couple of descent kahawai, a few jellyfish and lots of sea lettuce.”

Wendy says more than $1000 worth of spot prizes, donated by The Warehouse on Cameron Rd, was given out to most of the children.

'So we had some really happy kids.”

As many as 700 children and their parents turned up to the event.

Wendy, the Te Aranui Youth Trust manager who runs the Western Bay of Plenty's Blue Light programme, says the free event is a great chance for children to spend quality time with their parents.

'It's awesome. It's really nice to see mums and dads out there with their kids just fishing and spending time together. It was really quite tranquil.”

The event is part of the Blue Light community policing programme, which aims to cut youth crime and build young people's self-esteem by promoting positive recreation activities.

Liam Goldingham, 9, catching fish.

Keiran Cols, 7, and Reuben Coxhead, 9, having fun at the event.