Look up when you make the turn off of F.M. 2611 onto F.M. 2918, and you’ll see the first sign of the annual fishing tournament sponsored by the River’s End Volunteer Fire Dept., held the first full weekend of October.

This year, R.E.V.F.D. will host the 15th annual tournament, the biggest fund raiser of the year for the department.

You may pick up tournament applications and purchase T-shirts, raffle and meal tickets at Bernard Grocery on F.M. 2611 at the Churchill Bridge the weekends of Sept. 24-25, and Oct. 1-2 or at Stewart’s Grocery (in Brazoria) Saturday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. A free T-shirt will be given to each paid entrant. You may register and pay online at www.revfd.com .

Tournament applications are available upon request by contacting Kitty Handley at (979) 964-4260, or event Chairmen David Woodall at (979) 482-7752, Roy Edwards at (979) 964-4332. Or, download them from www.revfd.com.

The tournament begins at 12:01 a.m., Friday, Oct. 7, and runs through 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 9, when final weights will be tallied and prizes awarded. Fish can be caught anywhere in public waters, but must be weighed in at the River’s End Volunteer Fire Dept. Station at 12070 F.M. 2918.

The Adult Division of the tournament ($35 entry fee) consists of 4 categories: Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, and Croaker. First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded for each category.

First place for all categories will be $100 and a plaque. Second place winners will $50 and a plaque, and third place winners will receive a $25 and a plaque. There will also be a $100 prize and plaque for the Redfish with the most spots and the heaviest stringer.

The 16 and Under Division ($20.00 registration fee) is designed to encourage more youngsters to fish. This division also consists of 4 main categories: Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder and Croaker.

First place winners in all the above categories will take home a $50 gift certificate and a plaque; second place takes home a $25 gift certificate and a plaque; and third place takes home a $10 gift certificate and a plaque.

In addition to those 12 prize winning places, there are 4 more "fun" categories for our youth. Plaques will be awarded for the following "fun" categories: Redfish with the most spots, Largest Hardhead, Largest Blue Crab, and Largest Sand / Gulf Trout.

New, this year, there will be a Youth Heaviest Stringer award with a $50 gift card and plaque for the prize. This stringer must contain at least one each of Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder, but cannot have more than 5 fish total.

In addition, a "goody bag" filled with youth oriented items will be given to the first 14 youth paid registrants.

If you don’t fish, but you would still like to support the fire department, you can come for the Saturday, Oct. 8, or Sunday, Oct. 9 events. A Moonwalk will be available for the children’s enjoyment. Bar-b-que sandwiches with chips will be available for a $7 donation. The annual auction begins at 1 p.m., which includes a custom rod and reel donated by Billy Huett.