SEBASTIAN — There are no clear favorites in any of the categories in this year’s 20th annual Sebastian Exchange Club Foundation Blue Water Open Charity Offshore Fishing Tournament.
The fishing, however, should be good according to Karen McElveen, one of the organizers of the popular event, which will be held Saturday, June 1.
“I look for good catches of grouper,” McElveen said. “Government regulations had taken grouper away up until (recently). There are tons of them out there. They have been unfished for months.”
Grouper will be one of the four fish categories along with Dolphin, Wahoo and Kingfish. The top four places in each category will be rewarded, as well as an additional 10 places on the bonus board.
Anglers can leave from any inlet to begin fishing at 6 a.m. Saturday, June 1. They must return to Capt’n Butcher’s by 5 p.m. for the weigh-in.
“The dolphin should be turning over and there will be some wahoo,” McElveen said. “Kingfish almost always are out there. The winner (of this tournament) flops around. It just depends on the weather, where they’re out at sea and the conditions. A lot of it is luck — being where the fish are. This is a wide-open field.”
Last year, J-Walkin, captained by Jarrod Walker, won the Dolphin category and $1,000 with a catch of 23.15 pounds.
Capt. Ed Richard, on Miss Lil, finished second at 19.6 pounds.
Mako, captained by Adam Preuss, won the Wahoo category and $1,000 with a catch of 54.55 pounds. Fishmonger, captained by Gary Becker, was second with a catch of 26.4 pounds.
Rumor, captained by Richard Maxwell, prevailed in the Kingfish category with a catch of 36.05 pounds worth $1,000. Capt. Joel McKenney, on Easy Drinkin, was second at 29.05 pounds.
In the Grouper category, Team Ship Faced with Capt. Mike Floyd won $1,000 by landing a 40.15-pound catch. Stray Cat, captained by Rick Pino, was second at 34.85 pounds.
Top Boat honors and $2,000 went to Maxwell’s Rumors with a three-catch total of 65.75 pounds. First place in the Lady Angler category went to Abby Sutton, who also was aboard Rumors, with a catch of 36.05 pounds. Taner Haroldson won the Junior Angler award with a catch of 18.95 pounds.
“We’ve added a category for the largest amberjack at $1,000,” McElveen said. “With this being the 20th year anniversary, we’ve added $1,000 for a recordbreaking dolphin. We’re out to break the dolphin record. The record dolphin for the past five years is 35.30 pounds.”
All boats must attend a 6 p.m. Captain’s meeting on Friday at Capt’n Butcher’s, which is located at 1730 N. Indian River Drive in Sebastian.
Registration will begin at 5 p.m. The entry fee is $225.
A purse of at least $15,000 is guaranteed for 27 places. The winner in the Top Boat category will earn $2,000.
“We’re prepared for 120 boats, but we haven’t seen that many in years,” McElveen said. “But, that’s what we’re prepared for. We had almost 90 last year, and we anticipate 100 this year. We’ve added Sunday this year to give back to the folks. We want it to be a real family day. We’ll have games and giveaways.
“There’s still one day of fishing on Saturday, but the awards will be given between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday at Capt’n Butcher’s. The Exchange Club of Sebastian wants to raise money to help children, so this is all about kids,” she said.
Last year, the event raised $47,000 and the Exchange Club has raised more than $300,000 in the 19 years it has held the fishing tournament to help prevent child abuse, aid at-risk children and support local charities in their goal to fund college scholarships.
“It’s a big deal for the community,” McElveen said. “A lot of local businesses have helped us, and that’s what has helped make this so special. The community is behind us and we want to pour back this money into the community to help at-risk children.”
Some of the top sponsors include: TD Bank, Sebastian Tiki Bar & Grill, Sebastian River Medical Center, CARP Coastal Marine, Capt’n Butcher’s, Complete Electric and MN Worldwide.
For information, call Eva Chapman at (772) 228-3929 or Tanya Webb at (772) 589-4709. The website for the event, which is the largest offshore fishing tournament on the Treasure Coast, is www.BlueWaterOpen.com.