Pine Island Elementary Fishing Tournament and Derby Oct. 11
Attention all anglers it’s time for the 17th Annual Pine Island Elementary Fishing Tournament and Derby. The day-long event will be held at Olde Fish House Marina in Matlacha Sunday, Oct. 11, beginning at 8 a.m.
The tournament, established by the Matlacha Hookers (the first tournament was held Oct. 2, 1999, at Pine Bay Marina), benefits Pine Island Elementary School. Including last year’s tournament, the Hookers have raised more than $192,000 through the event.
Also every year, just before school starts, the Matlacha Hookers collect and donate school supplies. Boxes of pencils; scissors, erasers; Whiteboard markers; glue sticks; colored pencils; red, blue and black pens; and red pencils with erasers are donated to ensure every child has the necessary supplies.
“This year’s tournament will be dedicated to, and in memory of, John Skorupski,” Hooker Arlene Stornello said. “John and his wife, Ginny, owned the Olde Fish House Marina until 2011 and welcomed the Matlacha Hookers to hold their tournaments there from our early days until they sold the business.
“Since 2012 the new owners, Lisa and Darrell Dence, have graciously continued the tradition that John and Ginny began 18 years ago.”
The Captain’s Meeting will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served and U-shirts will be handed out. This year’s T-shirts were design by Randy and Ashley McKee.
This year’s T-shirt sponsors are listed alphabetically: Bert’s Bar & Grill, Bob & Annie’s Boatyard, Little Lilly’s Island Deli, Miceli’s Restaurant, Seven Seas Bait & Tackle, Total Payroll Management, Traders Hitching Post, Wild Child Art Gallery and Woody’s Island Rum Bar & Grille.
The adult registration fee is $60 per angler. That includes a T-shirt and complete fish-fry dinner. There’s a maximum of four anglers per boat. Children can fish the adult tournament but must pay the $60 registration fee and be eligible for all prizes.
All anglers agree to abide by the Florida Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations. All fish kept must be legal size and limits. Anglers do not have to fish from a boat.
The tournament begins at 7 a.m. (honor system) and weigh-in begins at 2 p.m.
There are cash prizes for the heaviest legal snook – $500; heaviest legal redfish – $500; heaviest legal trout – $500; and heaviest legal slam – $500.
Fish will be measured according to current regulations by the weigh master and weighed on a certified scale.
Kids registration: Sharks – 4th and 5th Grades, 8-9:30 a.m.; Pinfish – 2nd and 3rd Grades, 9:4511:15 a.m.; Shrimp – Kindergarten and 1st Grade, 11:30 a.m. 1 p.m.
For more information, contact Katie Fisher at 239-850-6866, DJ Duscik at 239-910-3829 or Sandy Kerr at 239-424-8219.
The Olde Fish House Marina is at 4530 Pine Island Road. For more about the restaurant, call 239-282- 9577 or visit www.oldfishhousemarina.com.