CCA STAR Tourney Expands Statewide For 2016
The CCA Florida Statewide tournament and anglers rodeo is truly living up to its name by including all of Florida for 2016. STAR is expanding to the east coast!
CCA Florida will release more than 150 tagged redfish in the CCA Florida Statewide Tournament and Anglers Rodeo (STAR) presented by Yamaha. This year’s tournament will run from Memorial Day, May 28, through Labor Day, Sept. 5, offering participants a total of 101 fishing days. Think catching one of the tagged redfish can’t be done? Just ask the 22 anglers who thought the same thing in 2015 and did not register. They know it is better to be safe and register than to be sorry and not win.
A chance to win $500,000 in prizes and scholarships makes CCA Florida STAR the largest family friendly saltwater fishing competition in the state. STAR Florida, a catch-and-photo tournament, is designed to educate the general public about the importance of conservation of Florida’s marine resources. CCA’s state-of-the-art smart phone app eliminates the need for anglers to bring their entry to a weigh-in. To enter their catch, anglers simply enter a photo of their fish on the 2016 official measuring device via the app. It will not be the biggest fish that wins. All division winners will be determined by a drawing from verified entries in each division except for tagged redfish, guides, conservation and the lionfish divisions. This offers anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to win.
The signature division of STAR will have CCA Florida releasing on average four STAR tagged redfish per coastal county, from Pensacola to the Everglades National Park and along the east coast of Florida from the upper Keys and Homestead all the way up to the Georgia border. Be one of the first seven STAR-registered CCA members and catch a 2016 STAR tagged redfish, follow the rules and you could win a new GMC Sierra pick-up truck from Conley Buick GMC, a Contender 22 Sport, Pathfinder 2200 TRS, Hells Bay Waterman, Sea Hunt 235 Escape—all powered by Yamaha—or one of two $25,000 youth scholarships. Catch and enter a photo of any of the other eligible species for the opportunity to win more terrific prizes.
The Academy Sports + Outdoors Youth Division offers youth anglers the opportunity to win a share in up to $100,000 in scholarships. CCA New Tide members’ entry in STAR is free. New Tide Membership is for youth ages 6 to 17 and is just $10. Youth anglers will also be eligible to participate in the tagged redfish division with two $25,000 scholarships on the line.
A fun division for Florida STAR anglers is the Conservation Division, which allows for any species caught to be entered in STAR. New additions to STAR are dolphin, kingfish and lionfish divisions. CCA will reward the top three participants who harvest the most lionfish during STAR. The inshore and offshore divisions will award first- through sixth-place prizes.
The 2016 STAR entry fee is only $35 for CCA members, $65 for non-members, which includes a CCA membership. Youth entry is free with New Tide Membership. Take your friends and family fishing this summer, and make it more fun by registering everyone for STAR. You just might win a new boat, motor and trailer package, a valuable scholarship or one of the many other great prizes. Go to www.ccaflstar.com for registration and more information.