SOURCE: NEWS RELEASE
The Martin County Artificial Reef Fund Committee will be hosting the 7th Annual Reef Builders Tournament along with the 3 rd Annual Lionfish Round-Up on Saturday, July 13th, 2013. These tournaments help fund the artificial reef program in Martin County.
With the focus on creating fish habitat, this tournament targets the species that these reefs are created to attract. This year the tournament will award first, second and third place cash prizes for the top Cobia, Dolphin, Grouper, Snapper, Kingfish and Wahoo.
“We have also included a Lionfish Round-Up which will include the dive community,” says John Burke, who is one of the tournament coordinators.
Lionfish are an invasive species and have been increasing in population on reef systems throughout the Caribbean and they have been rapidly making their way up the north east coast of the United States. Divers will be given instructions on how to handle the spiny fish at the mandatory Captains / Divers briefing on Friday, July 12th, at The Reef Waterfront Restaurant in Port Salerno. Anglers and divers will be required to log the location and the time each fish is caught. This information helps to provide much needed data for the Reef Builders.
“New this year we have added a ‘Team Division’ which will award the dive team who has collected the most lionfish,” said Burke.
Divers check in via phone or text message, allowing them to depart from anywhere along the Treasure Coast.
In 2011 and 2012, Martin County deployed reefs in memory of Kyle Conrad, a popular Jensen Beach resident, an avid fisherman and diver, who’s young life was cut short in 2010. The Top Boat in the fishing tournament receives the Kyle Conrad Trophy. New this year, professional Captain’s will vie for Top Charter Boat honors.
For more information on Martin County’s Artificial Reefs and this year’s Reef Builder Tournament and Lionfish Round-Up, please contact Betty, 772-223-1685, email; info@mcacreefs.org or visit the web site www.mcacreefs.org.
The MCAC Reef Fund is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) established to enhance the artificial reef program of Martin County, Florida.