July 28, 2019
By Florida Sportsman Editor
Stuart Sailfish Club to host 41st Annual Jr. Angler Tournament
The Stuart Sailfish Club will host the 41st Annual Jr. Angler Tournament on August 2nd & 3rd. The event is open to member and non-member youth age 6-18 years old. Fishing will be out of the Port Salerno “Pocket” with captains meeting, fishing and awards held on August 2nd-3rd, the Stuart Sailfish Club's newly built Tiki Hut Pavilion!
The Captain's Meeting will be held Friday evening, August 2 at 6pm at the Clubhouse Tiki-Hut. Fishing is on Saturday, August3 from 7:30am- 12:30pm, and all boats must check in by 1:00pm. Scales are open at Pirates Cove Marina from 12:30 -1pm. The Awards Luncheon, hosted by Jersey's Mike, will be at 2:30pm at the Clubhouse Tiki Hut.
Awards will be given for the heaviest fish, 1st – 3rd place, in each of these categories: Dolphin, Kingfish, Tuna, Snapper, Bonita, Amberjack, Cobia, Grouper,Red Fish, Sheepshead & Catfish. Sailfish (Release) 1st-3rd place. Anglers 18 & under may compete, however, only Sailfish Club Members' children 15 & under (at time of tournament) may qualify for the Ted Glasrud Outstanding Junior Angler Award.
This year, the Club has created a Champion's Division. It will include any/all prior winners of the Ted Glasrud Outstanding Junior Angler Award, & any and all anglers fishing on boats with a professional fishing captain (EXCEPT Safari 1 Charter). Must be a current member of the Stuart Sailfish Club to be eligible for this award.
Costto participate in the tournament is $40 for members and $45 for non-members. All Angler's will receive (1) T-shirt, (1) Backpack, (1) Luncheon Ticket & Raffle tickets. Registration forms are available online (below) and at most bait & tackle shops, or at the Clubhouse located at 3867
SE Evans Terrace, Stuart, Fl. There will be educational opportunities for anglers to learn knot tying, fishing ethics, rigging, and more.
The Club sponsors children from the Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranches in Live Oak and Bartow as well as local groups of disadvantaged kids, including children who are residents of Lahia House, a local home for underprivileged children. Eighty kids participated in the event last year.
The tournament offers kids a real offshore fishing experience that includes going through a true weigh in, training on catch and release, fishing ethics, safety, knot tying and more. The children are each given a rod, reel, tackle boxes and angler bags filled with hats and school supplies. A large part of the experience are the raffles and awards. Each child is given a ticket for a chance to win bikes, skateboards and other fun prizes.
“This is our members favorite event each year,” said Club President Charlie Conigliaro. “It's an amazing experience to be able to offer kids a fun day of fishing and boating, especially the kids who wouldn't ever have an opportunity otherwise. We get a lot of support from our sponsors and volunteers for this tournament, in part because it's such a rewarding day.” More than two dozen volunteers help put on the successful event, including retired captains, top notch fishermen and local businesses.
Donations are being sought for the event, including, bikes, skateboards, helmets, backpacks and other age-appropriate items. Cash contributions are also welcome. To make a donation, contact Cheryl, at the Stuart Sailfish Club at 772-286-9373 or email her at sailfish@stuartsailfishclub.com.
