24th Annual Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial Fishing Tournament April 9
Youngsters can also participate in 'Lil Bobbers event
The 24th Annual Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial Fishing Tournament will be held Saturday, April 9. Anglers will be competing for a total of $9,100 in prize payouts.
There will be a mandatory Captains Meeting Friday, April 8, at 7 p.m., at the Monroe Canal Marina. The tournament begins with an honor start at 7 a.m. from anywhere Saturday.
Safe Harbor Pineland Marina will again be providing ramps if anglers choose to leave from there.
Dinner and awards will be held at a new location — Alden Pines Country Club. Dinner is a mullet fry and BBQ at 3:30 with awards presentations afterwards, then the best raffle on Pine Island to follow.
The Holloway is all about kids. The shinning star of the event is the ‘Lil Bobbers where local guides take kids out for the day to compete in their own derby.
The kids have their own captains meeting on the Tuesday before the derby, and receive a T-shirt, hat and goodies. On the day of the tournament, the ‘Lil Bobbers boats arrive back to Pineland at 1:30 p.m. and head over to Alden Pines for their dinner and awards.
The captains and sponsors make that all possible, according to Ernestine Holloway Squires, who said, “It is such a joy to see the smile on the kids faces. Most haven’t been on a boat before. That makes everything we do so worthwhile.”
Holloway Squires is Bobby’s mother and event organizer.
The net proceeds from the tournament benefit area youth, such as college scholarships, continuing education, Little League, area schools, athletics, swim lessons and more.
Find us on Facebook or on web at hollowaytourney.org.
“We are able to help enrich the lives of our youth with the support of our loyal anglers and sponsors,” Holloway Squires said. “I cannot say thank you enough. I am so proud of Lil Bobby’s legacy and the impact it has on our island.”