“This was the best managed tournament I’ve ever seen!” exclaimed Capt. Butcher himself (Harold “Butch” Adams).
The 21st annual Sebastian Exchange Club Bluewater Open fundraiser June 7 at Capt. Butchers’ Waterfront Resort Seafood Grill and Bar, the fourth year in that location, netted a record-breaking $50,003 for area charities.
It was “just another beautiful day in Paradise” as 91 boats (the most ever) headed out into the Atlantic at 6 a.m. in search of fortune and glory, in the form of dolphin, kingfish, wahoo, grouper, amberjack and cobia.
Through the popular tournament, which attracts fishermen from all over the Treasure Coast, the Exchange Club has donated in excess of $340,000 to various charities which help abused, neglected and at-risk children. This year’s $50,003 will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indian River County; Youth Guidance and the Yellow Umbrella Child Abuse Prevention Center of Melbourne. A portion will also go to community projects during the year – the Boy Scouts, the Ecumenical Food Pantry, youth scholarships and others as needs arise.
Close to 100 businesses sponsored the event, joining Platinum Sponsors the Tiki Bar and Grill, TD Bank and SDI USA. At the Friday night VIP Party, a raffle and auction boosted the final fundraising tally. The raffle prize was a five-day fishing trip to Alaska, which included accommodations at a bed and breakfast and extra spending money.
With Co-Chairs Eva Chapman and Mike Natale at the helm, virtually the entire club membership participated, and the event ran smooth as a calm sea.
Boats had to be checked in by 5 p.m. and weigh-ins began at 2 p.m. The detailed scoring system worked like a charm thanks to Marybeth Verde and the other Scoring Committee volunteers.
Hardworking Scouts from Troop 598 directed the parking: Jeffrey Deyette and Schuylar Willis remained polite, helpful and well hydrated as the hours passed.
By 4, 20 to 30 boats waited for weigh-in in a bobbing S-curve reaching toward the channel. Official weighers Josh and Adam Vasquez had removed the sleeves from their Bluewater Open T-shirts and were getting a good upper body workout hoisting the fish – which ranged from 10 to 64.3 pounds – from boat to scale. “This turned out to be a gorgeous day,” said Josh with enthusiasm. “I’m stoked!”
Emcee Natale kept the action lively all day long, describing the fish – “We gotta bull!” – and joshing the fishermen and the crowd.
During the lulls, waiting for the next boat to weigh in, Natale and the Vasquez brothers lobbed fishing towels and T-shirts from the covered tournament HQ pier to the crowds on the deck and waterside bar.
The fabric Frisbee discs in handy pouches being given out by TD Bank Assistant Branch Manager Catherine Farrington were quickly being re-purposed as fans in the 90-plus afternoon heat. “This is our third year,” Farrington said. “It’s fun and it is such a good cause.”