Celebration of 20 years of tossing mullet to take place this weekend
The people of Pine Island treasure their traditions. Fishing, boating and farming are but a few of the things celebrated and held dear in this island community. In celebration of this heritage, many festivals are dedicated to these same activities. Among them is one that will celebrate 20 years of tradition in Matlacha. The Matlacha Mariners will host the annual Mullet Toss in celebration of the island’s mullet fishing heritage, which is sure to attract fish flingers from far and near on Saturday, Feb. 26.
“For this competition we rely on our island mullet fishermen to supply us with fish and, in turn, these fish are ‘re-cycled’ to be used as bait. As in years past, we are expecting some fierce competition during the Mullet Toss,” said organizer Jerry Tolliver. “For many years, contestants have traveled to Matlacha from as far away as northern Florida and the east coast to try their hand a breaking the Guiness record for the longest toss. This competition has sparked a lot of rivalries, some of which are folks who live right here and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if we see some record throws this year.”
This year’s venue will be the Matlacha Community Park in the heart of Matlacha. This facility offers ample parking, however, those attending are asked not to bring pets or carry-in coolers or beverages. Attendees are encouraged to bring a comfortable folding chair as seating will be limited. A day-long event, beverages will be available for purchase as well as grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and smoked mullet.
Pre-registration for those interested in competing will commence at 10 a.m. with the competition following from 10:30 a.m. to the final toss at 4 p.m. Admission for spectators is free, but those seeking to participate will pay $5 per toss. Each participant may toss a mullet as many times as he or she desires as long as the $5 donation is made for each toss. Only the longest toss within the boundaries will count. All decisions rendered by officials will be final. Those registering for the Mullet Toss will be assigned to an age appropriate category which includes; a Senior division, Adult Male, Adult Female and children in various age groups. The competition will begin when the tiny tots take their best shots from 10:30 a.m. until noon or until all children up to age 15 have competed. The children’s divisions include Fry Mullet ages 1 to 5, Fingerling Mullet ages 6 to 10 and Juvenile Mullet ages 11 to 15. The adults will compete from noon to 4 p.m.
This is a no-holds-barred competition with only a few simple rules. The contestants can select their own fish provided by local fishermen, but will not be allowed to participate using their own fish. Each of the fish provided will weight approximately one pound each so as to ensure a level playing field. No gloves are permitted during the toss, many past participants will roll their fish in the sand to provide a better grip which is permissible. It also is grounds for elimination if the participant breaks a fish when folded. All mullet must be tossed from behind the foul line. Contestants who step over the foul line before releasing a fish may be disqualified. In addition the tossed mullet must land within the outer boundary lines to be eligible.
Over the years, the venue for the Mullet Toss has changed, but the event has remained the same traditional gathering that it has been since it began in 1991. In the beginning the Mullet Toss was staged at Mulletville in Matlacha when contestants did their best to try to land their fish on the roof of the Lob Lolly. On the closing of both the Lob Lolly and later Mulletville, the event was moved across Pine Island Road to the Olde Fish House Marina and this year will be held in the Matlacha Community Park in Matlacha.
All proceeds from this and other Mariner sponsored events will benefit island residents and charities. Over the last several years, the Matlacha Mariners have donated more than $100,000 to other charitable organizations which include the Pine Island Food Pantry, FISH, the Beacon of HOPE, Pine Island Elementary School and many island individuals and families who are in need of short-term assistance.
For more information about the Matlacha Mariners or the 20th annual Mullet Toss, visit matlachamariners.org.