SEBASTIAN — On a clear Saturday morning, about 40 kids and their volunteer partners lined the long pier at Riverview Park for the Kids Blue Water Open, put on for the second time by the Sebastian Exchange Club. The tournament was open to all area kids, and many of the young anglers were from the Fellsmere and Sebastian Boys and Girls Clubs.
Event chairman was Rick Giteles, one of the founders of the club’s signature fundraiser event, the Blue Water Open, a popular area tradition celebrating its 21st year next June 6 and 7.
With the theme “Hook A Fish, Help A Child,” the tournament – officially the Sebastian Exchange Club Foundation Blue Water Open Offshore Charity Fishing Tournament – has generated about $340,000 over the years, said club President Mike Natale.
Funds raised are used to support the club’s major focus – youth programs and child abuse prevention.
The kids’ tournament, Giteles explained, is a way the club can give back to the community.
“We spend so much time fundraising,” he said, “we wanted to put some back, directly to the kids.”
Under the park pavilion, the boys and girls signed in and were paired with their adult volunteers. They had all been supplied with their very own rods and reels, yellow T-shirts and hats.
Heather Cook and 11-year-old son, Balin, were the first to arrive.
“He doesn’t get to fish much, but he likes it,” she said.
Debbie Murray brought her granddaughter, Cheyenne, 8, and her friend, Alyssa, 9.
“She’s fished since she was 18 months old,” Murray said. “She had a little pink rod and reel and she’d sit with her daddy.”
“I caught a flounder once.” said Cheyenne.
David Bradford arrived with his son, David, 11, and daughter, Bianca, 9.
“We go fishing all the time,” she said. “I caught a hammerhead shark once.”
“She gets more fish than anybody,” her dad admitted.
Before the fishing got under way, Giteles provided some tips.
“No overhand casting. Do not attempt to handle a catfish. Sting rays and crabs are not eligible. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help.”
He then asked them the name of the body of water into which they were about to drop their lines. Next he asked: “Who owns it?” After some silence and a couple of “Floridas!” someone answered, “We do!”
“That’s right! And it is up to us to take care of it,” Giteles told the kids. “Don’t pollute. Respect the fish.”
At last it was time.
“Are you ready to FISH?” Giteles hollered. A loud chorus answered, “YEESSS!” and the kids and partners headed toward the river.
At the weigh station tables, club members were ready to record the catches. Karen McElveen manned the scale for the official weigh-ins and, partway down the dock, at the bait station, her husband, Steve, also an Exchangite, was cutting bait and refilling the kids’ cups.
Present to offer whatever help might be needed and to answer random fish questions were officers of the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Andrew Zamonis and Chris Rutherford.
As the kids found spots along the pier and prepared to drop their lines, it became clear that although the fishing aspect generated a lot of excitement, the baiting-the-hook aspect did not. The adults were pressed into service.
“There’s a jellyfish,” called Emilie, pointing to the pinkish blob bobbing near the surface.
Sebastian Boys and Girls Club Branch Director Jordan Adams showed her how to use the reel release, and soon her line was in the water.
While the kids fished the morning away, club members were setting out lunch at the pavilion. Several local businesses supported the event through donations or providing items at cost: Woody’s Bar-B-Q, Native Tackle, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Orchid Island Bicycles and Kayaks, and Gator Bait.
