Blind fishing tourney
An annual fundraiser is in need of additional boat owners to serve as volunteer captains.
The Florida Council of the Blind’s 6th Annual Blind Fishing Tournament will take place Saturday, March 11, at the Cape Coral Yacht Club. The inshore slam partners a blind angler with a sighted captain and a mate.
Mike Ulrich, organizer of the event, explained that when he first went blind over a decade ago, his friends would always promise to take him out fishing with them. But, it never came to fruition.
“So, I learned how to fish on my own,” he said, adding that he is an avid fisherman now.
“I just want to try and let blind people know they, too, can do it,” Ulrich said.
As of Tuesday, 17 people had signed up as volunteer boat captains.
“I’d really like to at least hit 30,” he said.
Ulrich noted that the more boats and captains, the more blind anglers who can participate.
To be a captain, volunteers only need a boat and a love of fishing.
“We’re looking for people with in-shore boats or sizes that will fit in our in-shore waters,” he said. “They do not need a captain’s license because they are not being monetarily compensated.”
Volunteer captains are asked to let their angler borrow a rod, reel and tackle.
“I always tell the blind anglers that they are more than welcome to fish with their own gear,” Ulrich said, adding that they may not own their equipment. “A lot of them come in from out of the area.”
Last year, a total of 25 teams took part, with some teams having four people.
“Sometimes a captain will bring a buddy to help them out,” he said.
On March 11, the tourney will kick off at 7 a.m. at the Cape Coral Yacht Club pavilion with a free breakfast of coffee and donuts. Teams will also be assembled and the goodies bags handed out.
Ulrich noted that the bags include event T-shirts, event rules, food tickets and such.
Fifty live shrimp will be provided to each team for free to use as bait.
“It’s the captain’s responsibility to pick up them up the night before and keep them alive or pick them up the morning of the tournament,” he said.
The Crazy Lure Bait and Tackle Shop will once again provide the bait.
At 8 a.m., the teams will take to the water, with the final weigh-in set for 2 p.m.
The three target species are redfish, sea trout and snook.
“Each team keeps one of each species caught by the team’s bind angler,” Ulrich said. “We will weigh the fish and note the weight, and note the time the boat comes in case there’s a tie.”
Following the weigh-in, the winning teams will be announced.
“I’m still working on the prizes,” he said. “But, this year I will once again be giving all the captains a $25 gift card from different area businesses.”
The tourney will wrap-up at the pavilion with a free cookout for the participants.
“We’re going to have some really good prizes to raffle off,” Ulrich said.
Some of the prizes include a gift basket, solar-powered battery charger and one-year membership to TowBoatUS Cape Coral, as well as a custom handmade spinning rod with a high-quality spinning reel.
There will also be live entertainment.
Prior to the tourney, a non-mandatory captain’s meeting will be held March 10 from 6-7 p.m. at the Cape Coral Sail and Power Squadron. A pre-tournament party will follow at the Dixie Roadhouse.
To sign up as a captain, contact Mike Ulrich at 239-565-5845 or mulrich@centurylink.net.
The Cape Coral Yacht Club is at 5819 Driftwood Parkway.
The Crazy Lure Bait and Tackle Shop is at 4839 Vincennes St.
The Cape Coral Power Squadron is at 917 S.E. 47th Terrace.
The Dixie Roadhouse is at 1023 S.E. 47th Terrace.