15th Annual River’s End Volunteer Fire Dept. Fishing Tournament / Fund Raiser Set

August 23, 2011

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

The tournament begins at 12:01 a.m., Friday, October 7, and runs through 2 p.m., Sunday, October 9^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 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 7 and 8), and 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 9).

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. Note: Only Redfish between 22” and 27” will be accepted in any category – Adult or 16 and Under.

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. New, this year, there will be a Youth Heaviest Stringer award with a $50.00 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, October 8 or Sunday, October 9 events. A Moonwalk will be available for the children’s enjoyment Friday, October 7 - 9. Starting at noon Saturday, October 8, bar-b-que sandwiches with chips will be available for a $7.00 donation. The annual auction begins at 1:00 p.m. which includes a custom rod and reel donated by Billy Huett. Come by for lunch and stay for the auction in air conditioned comfort at station 1 (12070 FM 2918) where surprise door prizes will be awarded during the auction.

On Sunday, October 9, 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 (donated by Rick Gardner of Gardner and Martin), a silver chain with a custom silver jig head with ruby eyes (donated by Kinzie & Co.), a custom made Billy Huett rod and reel (donated by Billy Huett), and a $400.00 Academy Gift Certificate donated by David and Tracy Woodall and R.E.V.F.D.. Raffle tickets are available for $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00. For the third 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 worst hard luck story of the tournament.

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 September 24-25, and October 1-2 or Stewart’s Grocery (in Brazoria) Saturday, October 1 from 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, or Roy Edwards at 979-964-4332, or by downloading them from www.revfd.com . In case of a severe storm, the tournament will take place 2 weeks later (the weekend of October 21 - 23). Please contact Roy Edwards, David Woodall 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.