Guaranteed Cash Awards Now 10 Places Deep!
The 13th annual Palm Beach County KDW Classic, one of Florida’s largest KDW style fishing tournaments, returns to the Riviera Beach Marina on May 30th with more cash prizes than ever before. The popular event, co-hosted by the venerable West Palm Beach Fishing Club (WPBFC) and the City of Riviera Beach, routinely attracts over 200 boats and nearly 1,000 anglers. The KDW Classic is a very family & friends oriented event offering a wide range of prizes for adults and kids. New this year the tournament will offer 10 guaranteed cash awards in all four categories, Kingfish, Dolphin, Wahoo and Juniors (kids age 12 & under). The format makes it exciting for all participants, especially kids.
Broad based support from sponsors, a great value to anglers and an ongoing commitment to give something back to the local community are other reasons why the KDW Classic has developed such a loyal following. Through the years tournament proceeds have been used to create new artificial reefs, install reef saving mooring buoys, support the City of Riviera Beach scholarship fund and aid the annual Kid’s Fishing Day program produced by the Fishing Club’s charitable affiliate, the Palm Beach County Fishing Foundation.
The Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County has been the KDW Classic’s presenting sponsor since the beginning. Numerous other sponsors participate in the event by underwriting the cash awards, providing raffle items and other tournament giveaways. This year $34,000 in guaranteed cash prizes, regardless of the number of boats entered, and more than $30,000 in raffle items and trophies are up for grabs.
Even if you don’t catch a big fish there are plenty of ways to win. For example, every registered boat is eligible for significant giveaways in the KDW Classic Treasure Chest, which are five identical prize packs valued at over $1,000 each. All junior anglers are eligible for one of the Junior Treasure Chest prizes, fifteen $100 bills. Another new wrinkle this year is a $1,000 ‘Captains Booty’ cash prize, which will be awarded by randomly drawing a boat number during the captains meeting, giving anglers a chance to win big before ever wetting a line! If that wasn’t enough, every boat entered in the tournament is also eligible for the $2,000 ‘Hit the Jackpot!’ cash prize that is also awarded by randomly drawing a boat number during the awards party. The only catch with these valuable cash giveaways is that you must be present and must show your official boat number to collect the prize. The male and female angler lucky enough to weigh-in the heaviest fish of the tournament will be crowned the King & Queen of the Classic by the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County. While there is no additional cash award, there certainly are coveted bragging rights attached to the honor including the winners names engraved on the KDW Classic Champions trophy. Ande Monofilament will present a $1,000 ‘Big Fish Bonus’ check to the angler lucky enough to catch the heaviest eligible fish overall in the Classic.
“The West Palm Beach Fishing Club prides itself on its unique role and active involvement in the community. With the Palm Beach County KDW Classic we are committed to producing a family oriented, first class event that benefits our area in many ways,” said WPBFC Chairman Pete Schulz. Anglers can register for the tournament online at www.kdwclassic.com. Prior to May 21st the tournament entry fee is $175 for WPBFC members and tenants at Riviera Beach Marina, New Port Cove, Old Port Cove, North Palm Beach Marina and the Palm Beach Yacht Center. For all others the early entry fee is $200 per boat if paid by May 22nd. After May 21st all boat entries are $275.
For additional tournament information call the WPBFC at (561) 832-6780.