The annual event, which sees more than a thousand fishing enthusiasts competing in a number of offshore, inshore, and blue water tournaments, aims to “help those who cannot help themselves,” says its website.
Founded by David Cowan, the tournament has donated $6.3 million to various charities since its inception in 2002. Many companies, event sponsors, private entities, and volunteers have rallied to the event’s worthy cause and thrown in their support.
Highlights include:
- Snapper, cobia, and king mackerel for offshore events
- Flounder, speckled trout, and tripletail for inshore events
- Tuna, mahi-mahi, and bill fish (tag and release) for blue water events
Exciting sidelights
Participants not only have fun, catch up with old friends, and make new ones. They also enjoy overflowing food and drinks, and win door prizes in the evening. Exciting items like a brand-new boat, motor, and trailer, are also auctioned off.
No wonder the tournament has enjoyed success after success all these years.
In 2015, it drew 641 fishermen, 26 tent table sponsors, and numerous visitors from all over the state. Organizers donated the event’s $430,000 earnings to 39 charities. Among them were the Matagorda County Women’s Crisis Center, Matagorda Volunteer Fire Department, and the Bay City Women’s Pregnancy Center.
Dates to remember
This year, the popular tournament casts its lines at Matagorda, Texas on July 14 to 16. Participants will compete in offshore, inshore, and blue water events.
Valuable auction items and packages, such as two framed watercolors by the award-winning artist John Dearman, dove hunts for four, and a seven-night stay for six people in the Ritz-Carlton Aspen Highlands, are up for grabs.
Organizers will start mailing registration forms on April 5.
Deadlines to remember are:
- Payment of tent sponsor dues and angler team fees – June 1
- Submission of registration form – June 15