River’s End Volunteer Fire Dept. Family Fishing Tournament

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

River’s End Volunteer Fire Dept. will host the 19^th annual fishing tournament and fund raiser on the first full weekend of October (Oct. 2 – 4). The tournament begins at 12:01 a.m., Friday, October 2, and runs through 2 p.m., Sunday, October 5^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. 2 and 3), and 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 4).

This year marks the 42^nd anniversary of the founding of River’s End VFD and proceeds from this tournament go toward obtaining cribbing and air bags for wrecked car stabilization. We are also actively seeking fish sponsors ($10.00 and up), and donations of live and silent auction items.

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 receive $50.00 and a plaque, and third place winners will receive $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 20” and 27” will be accepted in any category – Adult or 16 and Under.

The 16 and Under Division ($25.00 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 only will be awarded for the following “fun” categories: Redfish with the Most Spots, Largest Hardhead, Largest Blue Crab, and Largest Sand / Gulf Trout. Again, this year, there will be a Youth Heaviest Stringer award with a $50.00 gift card and plaque for the prize. Again this year, only for the 16 and Under division, the prize will be awarded to the heaviest stringer of any up to 5 of the following legally caught fish; Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Croaker, Hardhead, or Silver Trout.  As a special treat, the first 28 paid youth anglers will receive a goody bag courtesy Port Freeport.

Again this year are daily mini-tournaments which earn winning anglers bragging rights and a plaque for each daily winning fish. Dates, eligible fish and weigh-in times for the mini-tournaments are as follows:

Date:	Eligible Fish	Weigh-in times
Friday, October 2, 2015	Speckled Trout	9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 3, 2015	Redfish	9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, October 4, 2015	Flounder	8 a.m. – noon

Please note the weigh-in times differ from the main tournament weigh-in hours.

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. 

Starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, until 7 p.m., October 3, a boiled shrimp dinner (catered by 2J’s Seafood House) for a $15.00 donation or a B-B-Q sandwich with chips and a drink for a $10.00 donation. A silent auction will run from 11 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. for the community’s convenience. There will also be a live auction (maximum 6 items) at 2 p.m.

On Sunday, October 4, awards will be presented to the tournament winners starting around 3:00 p.m.  After the close of the weigh station, while we are waiting for awards results, door prizes will be offered. 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 & Martin), a custom piece of jewelry (donated by Kenzie & Co.), a custom made rod and reel (made and donated by Billy Huett), and a $400.00 Walmart Gift Certificate sponsored by community donations. Raffle tickets are available for $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00. Winners need not be present to win.

You may pick up tournament applications and purchase t-shirts, and raffle tickets at McCoy’s (in Brazoria) on September 19, Bernard Grocery on F.M. 2611 at the Churchill Bridge September 26 – 27, Stewart’s Grocery (in Brazoria) Saturday, September 26 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. or at Station 1 (12070 F.M. 2918Thursday, October 1 from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.. A free t-shirt will be given to each paid entrant. 

You may also register and pay online with PayPal at www.revfd.com .

Tournament applications are also available at 2J’s Seafood House and upon request by contacting Roy Edwards at 979-964-4332, or Tracy Woodall at 979-482-4626, or by downloading them from www.revfd.com . You may also register and pay online. 

Please note you must be a paid entrant before you start fishing for the tournament.

In case of a severe storm, the tournament will take place 2 weeks later (the weekend of October 17 - 19). Please contact Roy Edwards or Tracy Woodall at the above phone numbers if changes to these plans become necessary. Bring your fishing rod and tackle box and we’ll see you at the end of the river.