13th Annual River’s End Volunteer Fire Dept. Fishing Tournament / Fund Raiser Set

September 1, 2009

13^th Annual River’s End Volunteer Fire Dept. Fishing Tournament / Fund Raiser Set

Look up when you make the turn off of F.M. 2611 on to 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 weekend of October. This year, R.E.V.F.D. will host the 13^th annual tournament which is the biggest fund raiser of the year for the department.

The tournament begins at 12:01 a.m., Friday, October 2, and runs through 2 p.m., Sunday, October 4^th 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. Weigh in hours will be from noon until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 2 and 3), and 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 4).

The Adult Division of the tournament ($35.00 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 $100.00 and a plaque. Second place winners will $50.00 and a plaque, and third place winners will receive a $25.00 and a plaque. There will also be a $100.00 prize and plaque for the Redfish with the most spots and the heaviest stringer. This stringer must contain at least one each of Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder, but cannot have more than 5 fish total.

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 $50.00 gift certificate and a plaque; second place takes home a $25.00 gift certificate and a plaque; and third place takes home a $10.00 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. In addition, a “goody bag” filled with coolers, fish identification guides, water bottles, etc. will be given to the first 30 youth who register at the weigh in station.

If you don’t fish, but you would still like to support the fire department, you can come for the Saturday, October 3 or Sunday, October 4 events. A Moonwalk will be available for the children’s enjoyment both days. Starting at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, October 3, bar-b-que sandwiches with chips will be available for a $5.00 donation. The annual auction begins at 2:00 p.m. and there will also be a dance, featuring Anthony Smith, (BYOB) from 8 p.m. till midnight.

On Sunday, October 4, awards will be presented to the tournament winners at 2:30 p.m. Raffle drawings will also be held for a 20’ tapered aluminum flag pole with a 3’ x 5’ flag (installed locally) and a 14 kt. yellow gold redfish pendant. New this year, the Tim Austin Memorial Hard Luck Tale prize ($49.97 and a box of Kleenex) will also be awarded to the angler with the hardest luck story of the tournament.

You may pick up tournament applications and purchase raffle and meal tickets at Bernard and Churchill Groceries on F.M. 2611 at the Churchill Bridge the weekends of September 19-20, and September 26-27 or Stewart’s Grocery (in Brazoria) Friday, September 25 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free t-shirts will be given to all paid entrants or can be purchased for $12.00 at the local stores mentioned above on the same weekends. New this year, you may also pick up registration forms and rules at Grapevine Gifts in Lake Jackson or Ann’s Custom Monogramming in Freeport.

Tournament applications are available upon request by contacting David Wineland at 979-236-2480, Kitty Handley at 979-964-4260, or event Chairman, Ricky Swango at 979-236-0743, or by downloading them from www.revfd.com . In case of a hurricane, the tournament will take place 2 weeks later (the weekend of October 16 - 18). Please contact Ricky Swango, David Wineland or Kitty Handley at the above phone numbers if changes to these plans become necessary. We’ll see you at the end of the river.