To assist in the inaugural Wet Spots Tournament, organizers have enlisted the assistance of the Bud Girls. According to tournament official Bernard Johnson, Budweiser Brewing Company will send out the Bud Girls to attend the Captain’s meeting to be held at Bert’s Bar before the event.

“This will be a fun evening for everyone participating in the tournament,” Johnson said. “We will be kicking things off in style at Bert’s the Saturday before the tournament with a special visit by the Bud Girls.”

The Captain’s meeting take place on Saturday, Feb. 20, at Bert’s Bar and Grill beginning at 6:30 p.m. No entries will be taken after the Captain’s meeting.

The Wet Spots Tournament is slated to take place on Sunday, Feb. 21, and all proceeds will benefit the island charities supported by the Matlacha Mariners.

“We see this as an opportunity to raise money to assist the Mariners in their charitable causes. They have given so much to the community and we are thankful to be able to help and have fun at the same time,” Johnson said.

Speaking on behalf of the Matlacha Mariners, Wayne Reed was pleased to hear about his organization being named benefactors of the event.

“We are very pleased that island businesses are pulling together to help us help our community,” Reed said. “I wish them good weather and good luck.”

The tournament winner will be determined by the number of spots that are visible on a redfish entered into the competition. Participants in the tournament will each be issued a “Wet Spot” card which they can have stamped at each of the sponsor locations.

“The idea is if a participant goes to one location and comes up empty, they can try again by bringing their Wet Spots card to another one of the sponsor locations. Even if you don’t catch a fish, you still stand a chance at winning the $500 prize simply by visiting all of the sponsoring locations to have the cards stamped,” Johnson said. “We are also encouraging live release. With the fish kill we had earlier this winter, we will be doing our best to promote conservation efforts.”

Wet Spot locations can be found in several locations in Matlacha and on Pine Island. All can be accessed by water and include Bert’s Bar and Grill, Olde Fish House Marina, Mulletville, Miceli’s and Seven Seas Bait and Tackle in Matlacha, Lazy Flamingo in Bokeelia and The Waterfront, Ragged Ass Saloon, Woody’s Waterside and Low Key Tiki in St. James City.

A total of $2,000 in cash prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories. According to Jim Frock, organizer and owner of Seven Seas Bait and Tackle, redfish spots will be counted on the docks behind Bert’s Bar and will be limited to one fish per angler and four fish per team. All redfish entered must be legal 18 to 27 inches in length. The tournament will take place from safe sun light until the final spot count at 5 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for most number of spots on an actual single redfish, most number of spots accumulated by an individual with both fish and/or spots obtained at official sponsor Wet Spots on Pine Island and for the most spots accumulated by a team for up to four redfish.

The Matlacha Mariners, a non-profit organization, are regular contributers to the Pine Island Elementary School, FISH, Beacon of HOPE, Pine Island Food Pantry and other charitable causes.

For more information about the Wet Spots tournament, call Jim Frock at 283-1674.