Firefighters set to host fishing tournament

http://www.thefacts.com/story.lasso?ewcd=c9cb27e9799ad41a

Published September 7, 2009

The 13th annual Rivers End Fire Department Fishing Tournament fundraiser is set for Oct. 2-4.

This year’s event has a bit of a twist in the prize section as the tournament will be both for adults and juveniles.

“The tournament has really grown a lot and even last year we took a little hit because of the storm but we still had a good turnout,” Rivers End committee member David Wineland said. “Last year we had the most juveniles and we just hope that keeps improving.”

Rivers End will start the tournament at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 2 and end it at 2 p.m. Oct. 4 as anglers both young and old will vie for first-through third-place finishes in the redfish, speckled trout, flounder and croaker categories.

“We try to include the community as much as possible and we are trying to emphasize kids to fish,” Rivers End committee member Jan Edwards said. “We want these kids to recognize what resources they have in order for them to learn how to fish and keep doing it. There is no greater joy than to watch a kid fish for the first time.”

Adult anglers will pay $35 and youth $20 to join the tournament.

Prizes for adult categories are $100 and a plaque for first place, $50 and plaque for second and $25 and plaque for third-place finishers in each category.

Anglers in the adult division also can win $100 and a plaque for capturing the redfish with the most spots.

For the young anglers, first place will include a $50 gift certificate and plaque, second place $25 gift certificate and plaque and third-place finishers a $10 gift certificate and a plaque.

The first 30 youths to register for the tournament will get goody bags.

Along with these prizes there also will be plaques issued for the redfish with the most spots, largest hardhead, heaviest blue crab and the largest sand trout.

There is a free T-shirt for anyone who registers for the tournament as well.

Weigh-in station will be at the Rivers End Fire Department building at FM 2918 with hours of operation from noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The station will also be open on the final day 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We also have a new category this year. It is called the Tim Austin Memorial Hard Luck Tale Award,” Edwards said. “The winner of this award gets $49.97 and a box of Kleenex for any man, woman or child. It was named for Kitty Hanley’s son who died of cancer this year. As you can tell Tim always had a hard-luck tale and so in honor to keep his memory alive we have added this category.”

Last year 127 anglers attended the tournament despite Hurricane Ike, and this year they are hoping for a couple of hundred. The event is used to raise money for the fire department and organizers are hoping to raise enough to buy a brush truck.

Saturday’s festivities will also include barbecue sandwiches from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $5; an auction at 2 p.m. and a dance featuring Anthony Smith from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Joel Luna is the sports editor for The Facts. Contact him at (979) 237-0160.