9th Annual Treasure Coast Bonito Blast Tournament

9th Annual Treasure Coast Bonito Blast Fishing Tournament kicks off August 13 in Port Salerno, supporting disabled veterans

The 9th annual Treasure Coast Bonito Blast (TCBB) brings our community together as Treasure Coast businesses participate to create an affordable event that brings our quaint town (with a fishing problem!) together to celebrate and support the Wounded Veteran's Relief Fund (WVRF). The event includes substantial prize money, dinner, live music, auction items, raffle and more family friendly festivities.

The TCBB is the largest one-day tournament on the Treasure Coast. The Bonitos are always biting at this time of the year! To date, the tournament has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the WVRF, providing assistance to hundreds of veterans per year (https://wvrf.org). Please join us in giving back to those who gave so much by supporting the TCBB!

The WVRF was founded in 2009 to support and assist our Florida veterans and to serve as a bridge for transition into civilian life. Over the years they have helped thousands of Veterans by providing immediate emergency financial support to those much deserving. More than 85% of all funds donated to WVRF go directly toward veteran assistance, earning them GuideStar's platinum level recognition for performance and serving Florida's veterans. WVRF assists in getting their lives back on track by helping with job training, housing, transportation, past-due bills, child needs and other forms of assistance. For example, the WVRF has recently developed a new and separate dental program that will not only improve the physical and mental health of our Florida veterans, but also improve their quality of life. The WVRF mission is to save lives and keep these families together. Please remember, we enjoy the many blessings of freedom, which are not “free”, secured for us by these heroic veterans', and their families', many sacrifices. Home of the free because of the brave.

As Mike Durkee, Executive Director of WVRF has said, “the veterans' stories are why we do what we do…when they return home after fighting for our freedom, a new journey begins, often fraught with hardships. We are grateful to the community for their incredible generosity and support of these heroes after all they've done for us”. The WVRF wishes to thank our community for its overwhelming support for this special veteran's event. In addition to the funds raised, taking various veterans fishing means so much to them; especially seeing the community come together to take part in such a patriotic event. The WVRF is very grateful for all the support shown to our veterans over the past 8 years.

**PLEASE JOIN US ON FRIDAY AUG 6TH 5:00-7:00PM FOR OUR 1ST ANNUAL PRE-EVENT PARTY AT THE BEAUTIFUL PIRATES COVE FOR PRE-REGISTRATION AND SHIRT SALES**

The captain's meeting on Friday August 13, 2021, will include tent events and entertainment. The tournament will begin on Saturday, August 14, 2021, and the awards party on Saturday night will include dinner, a silent auction and music. The TCBB is expecting over 180 registered boats with over 100 veterans fishing in the tournament.

Pirates Cove Resort and Marina, Stuart, Florida, will host the Captain's meeting August 13 at 6:00 pm, weigh-in August 14 on the dock from 12:00-3:00 pm and the awards party August 14 at 5:00 pm. Pirates Cove is perfect for this tournament. It has old Florida charm and great atmosphere, in a gorgeous and spacious contemporary setting.

The Pirates Cove's ownership and staff are graciously looking forward to your attendance!

TCBB is a 501(c3) event. Contributions are tax deductible. EIN#: 46-2993288.

Visit the TCBB Facebook page and its website for more information, tournament details and to register: www.TreasureCoastBonitoBlast.com.