19th Annual River’s End Volunteer Fire Dept. Fishing Tournament Set to Reel in Fun, Fish, and Funds
River’s End Volunteer Fire Dept. will host the 19th 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 4th 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 42nd anniversary of the founding of River’s End VFD and all proceeds from this tournament go toward obtaining cribbing and air bags for wrecked car stabilization. We are still accepting donations of live and silent auction items.
Again this year, R.E.V.F.D. is offering daily mini tournaments that all divisions can compete in. Friday, October 2nd’s mini-tournament is for Speckled Trout and special weigh-in hours for this mini-tournament will be 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday’s (Oct. 3) mini-tournament is for Redfish with the same special weigh-in hours as Speckled Trout. Sunday, October 4th’s mini-tournament is for Flounder with special weigh-in hours of 8 a.m. – noon. Fish entered in the daily mini-tournaments can also be weighed in for the larger tournament. The prizes for the mini-tournaments are plaques and bragging rights.
Event T-shirts will be given to all paid entrants. In addition to the t-shirt, paid anglers in the 16 and Under division will receive a free “goody” bag (until exhausted – only 28 available) provided by Port Freeport. Again this year, you may also download entry forms, register, or register and pay online at www.revfd.com as well as coming to station 1 (12070 FM 2918) to register .
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. Only Redfish between 20” – 27” may be entered in any category.
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. Again this year the Youth Heaviest Stringer winner will take home a $50.00 gift certificate and a plaque. The rules for the Youth Heaviest Stringer have changed to make it easier for the young anglers to win and includes up to 5 of ANY legal Redfish, Speckled Trout, Croaker, Hardhead or Silver (Sand) Trout (this includes fish outside of the four categories, but the largest Redfish entered can only be 27” long). In addition to those 13 prize winning places, the R.E.V.F.D. has added 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.
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. Door Prizes will be also be awarded during the day.
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.
Tournament applications are available 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. We’ll see you at the end of the river.