SEBASTIAN — More than two dozen anglers spent their Saturday morning out on the water to not only have fun catching fish and vie for cash prizes, but also to help support the GFWC Sebastian River Junior Woman’s Club and its efforts to improving the community.
Among those who took to the water, was 7-year-old Riley Ames, who reeled in a more than 3 pound, 22-inch trout – the biggest fish she’s ever caught.
But, she was quick to point out, it was the first fish she’s ever caught.
Using mullet as bait, Riley held on tightly when she felt a bite.
“I did all the fighting,” she said with a proud grin splayed across her face. “It fought hard!”
She went out with Grandpa Joseph Richter Sr., of Sebastian, and said that was the best part of the day – spending time with him.
Riley’s mom, Rachel Ames, said they were visiting and that Riley wanted to go out on the water to fish with her grandpa.
Having been involved with the GFWC Sebastian River Junior Woman’s Club when she lived in Sebastian, Ames said they had to participate in the 13th annual Flats Fishing Tournament.
“It’s a great charity,” Ames said.
Richter later won a door prize – an AC/DC seat cover and steering wheel cover for his vehicle – a prize that left him chuckling.
Organizer Teddy Hulse said that this year’s tournament didn’t bring out the number of anglers the club has had in the past, but it was still a good group of people.
Hulse attributed the iffy weather and the still sluggish economy to the turnout.
One angler who hasn’t passed up an opportunity to participate in the tournament in seven years was Rich Willis, who took home the first place prize for trout.
“It’s just a fun event,” Willis said.
He hit the water at about 6 a.m. Saturday and caught the winning fish less than a half-hour later. He spent the next nearly 7 hours trying to top the 6.57-pound, 27-inch trout he had caught, but to no avail.
He turned in with more than 2 hours left in the competition.
“I was just tired,” Willis said, explaining that it wasn’t confidence that led him to head back to shore.
He said he caught several trout, comparing each one to the first, which he kept in the live well.
“That was the bigger one,” Willis said of his winning fish.
“It’s a fun tournament,” he added, “and a great event.”
He encourages all participants to bring a kid with them to share in the fishing fun.
The fishing tournament was held at Capt. Butcher’s on Indian River Drive, one of several businesses that supported the GFWC Sebastian River Junior Woman’s Club event. Other businesses that sponsored the tournament included HealthSouth, Sebastian River Medical Center, The Eagles Nest, SNL Corporation, Heads Up Sprinklers, REMax Crown Realty, and Rods by Rufus.
The Junior Woman’s Club is a volunteer organization located at the Sara Wentworth Rose Memorial Clubhouse on US 1, the small red house across from Discount Auto Parts. The club meets on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m.
Along with the fishing tournament, the GFWC Sebastian River Junior Woman’s Club hosts or participates in the Sebastian Haunted House, Night Out Against Crime, rummage and consignment sales, an annual Easter Egg Hunt, Santa in the Park, providing turkeys and hams for the Senior Center, roadside cleanups, and the Butterfly Garden at Hardee Park.
Anyone interested in learning more about the club or joining is encouraged to attend a meeting or call Teddy Hulse at (772) 589-2929 or Dionna Farmer at (772) 801-6165.
