With brisk winds and choppy seas blowing up late morning, 35 anglers (8 to 18) hung in and fished all morning aboard the Safari I charter boat. Another 25 kids fished on smaller private boats. All were participating in the Stuart Sailfish Club’s 35th Junior Angler Tournament out of Sailfish Marina on a Saturday morning.
Most of the boys and girls on the Safari I were from the Florida Sheriff s Youth Camps from around the state for the second year in a row. Ten other anglers were from a Port St. Lucie scout troop. They all caught fish, with large blue runners being the dominant catch. Kids on the private boats caught dolphin and kingfish up to 24 pounds, as well as many bonito.
Back at Sailfish Marina, all fish were weighed, and a certificate of catch and fish were photographed and displayed by the happy anglers. After a BBQ lunch prepared by “Southern Pig and Cattle Company”, each angler received the traditional rod and reel from the Club, as well a raffle prize. After lunch the trophies covering off shore and inshore categories were presented. The nearly 40 lb. and 3 foot high Ted Glasrud Perpetual Outstanding Junior Angler Award was won by Derek Scherz, the Club junior angler with the most points/pounds overall. He had just joined the Club prior to the tournament! Brent Kane won the Yamaha motor donated by Manatee Marina.
A heartfelt moment came when Andrew Boyer, from Merritt Island, who had just won a new bike in the raffle, came up to the emcee and offered to give his new bike to one of the Florida Sheriff Youth Camp kids. The 20 club volunteers who organized the event and all of the 120 adults and kids in the crowd were overwhelmed by his generosity. In addition to the many raffle prizes the youth angers received, the Florida Youth Camp kids were going home with two new bicycles!
Heartfelt thanks to all of the sponsors and volunteers; the Club could not hold such an event without their support.
