Sign up now for Pioneer Days fishing tourney

Posted by Mark Chapman on August 22nd, 2010 at 4:16 am,
with photos by courtesy Lemon Bay Historical Society

The fish­ing pier at the Tom Adams Bridge has been packed in the past for the Fish-A-Thon.

Sub­mit­ted by Pio­neer Days Committee

Haul out the rods and reels — an Engle­wood Pio­neer Days tra­di­tion returns this year. Chil­dren 12 and younger can par­tic­i­pate in the Michael O’Donnell Memo­r­ial Fish-A-Thon.

Chair­woman Cathy Red­man believes strongly that every child should have a chance to learn to love fish­ing as her late son, Michael, did. Older fish­er­men from across the com­mu­nity are pitch­ing in to make this a great time for the younger ones.

The event will be held Sun­day, Sept. 5, at the Tom Adams Bridge on Beach Road. While the event is free to the young par­tic­i­pants, pre-registration forms must be received by Aug. 26 to get the entrant a free T-shirt. Reg­is­tra­tion forms and infor­ma­tion are avail­able at: http://www.englewoodpioneerdays.com.

Reg­is­tra­tion begins at 8 a.m. Sept. 5. You do not have to be pre-registered to attend. At 9 a.m., Capt. Chris O’Neill of Tail Chaser Char­ter Ser­vices, producer/co-host of  The Reel Salt­wa­ter Out­doors Radio Show and senior guide and out­door writer for  Coastal Angler Mag­a­zine, will present fish­ing tips and safety infor­ma­tion. Lines will go in the water at 9:15 a.m..

There will be awards given for the: Longest Fish, Short­est Fish, Ugli­est fish, Heav­i­est Fish, and the Most Unusual Catch.

Red­man has been amazed and awed at the sup­port the event has gen­er­ated from the fish­ing com­mu­nity. O’Neill was the first on board and oth­ers soon pitched in. The T-shirt spon­sors are Coastal Angler Mag­a­zine (John Rad­kins) and Sam­pan Screen­print, Utica, Ind. (Glenn and Elaine Mur­phy). Bait Spon­sors: Cor­ner Mar­ket on Dear­born (live shrimp from Tay­lor and Cindy Meals), and Capt. Ryan Rowan (mul­let for chum and cut bait).

Safety, event coor­di­na­tion and the admin­is­tra­tion booth will be han­dled by Team Reel Salt­wa­ter Out­doors, O’Neill and  Rowan. Pro­vid­ing judges, assis­tance in bait­ing and addi­tional staff is the No Motor Anglers Club, Dan De la Pre­silla and Dave (Gator) Harper. The Lemon Bay Sun­rise Rotary will be pro­vid­ing 50 to 60 poles. John Bass of John Bass Pho­tog­ra­phy will be pho­tograph­ing the event. Ice and cool­ers for the day have been donated by Elli­son Gen­eral Contracting.

Addi­tional funds have been donated by Man­a­sota Key Realty and gift cer­tifi­cates are from Avon Store, Engle­wood and Key West Subs.

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