Annual Wakulla Children’s Fishing Tournament

By Toni Courtier

Festival Season is upon us! It seems as the days get longer and carefree we hustle about more to make sure we include all the wonders of this beautiful area we call home. The Wakulla Children’s Fishing Tournament is preparing for another successful event. This year, on Saturday, June 2nd we hope to have over 400 children involved. This annual event is free and allows the areas boys and girls ages 3 to 15 years old to participate. For some this will be a first time experience and for others a return opportunity. Children may fish from a dock, in a pond, off a pier, a family boat or one of the boats donated by experienced charter boat captains who give up their time to spend a day sharing their expertise and knowledge with the children. Sharing and teaching the fun of fishing with youngsters creates memories, habits and hobbies that may last a lifetime. What a wonderful time to be able to share and teach about something you love. Boating participants need to be at the Panacea Harbor Marina, down Rock Landing Road, between 7:00AM and 8:30AM on Saturday morning. The last tournament fleet boat will leave at 8:30AM. Children going on boats will have to have a Coast Guard approved life-jacket. There are only a LIMITED number available so please, if you have a life-jacket for your child; make sure to bring it. Only those children going on one of the volunteered boats need to pre-register, all others will register when they come to Woolley Park in Panacea for the weigh in.

{sidebar id=1}There will be two divisions of fish: Fresh water (Bass, Pan Fish and Catfish) and Saltwater (White Trout, Speckled Trout, Spanish Mackerel Redfish, Flounder and Whiting) Weigh in will be from 10:00 AM until 1:00PM and no later; no exceptions. Parents, while we encourage your participation and enthusiasm, please remember that this is a children’s fun/learning event and no disputes will be allowed. Lunch will be served, at no charge to the participants, from 10:00AM until 3:00PM at Woolley Park. Games and such will also be available for the children’s amusement.

The Coastal Optimist Club and the continued support of Ben Withers ensures that every child receives a T-shirt and each and every child also gets a certificate for entering as well as a door prize, usually a new fishing pole or a tackle box…good stuff. These gifts are possible because of the generous contributions of our community and the work of the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office Volunteers. Be sure to read the names proudly printed on the T-shirts and certainly thank and frequent the businesses of these sponsors.

You don’t have to catch the biggest fish to catch the big prize, just be the lucky ticket holder. The grand prize giveaway will be a trip to Wild Adventures in Valdosta for a family of four, including a parking pass and $100.00 spending money.

This is a weather dependent function and, unfortunately, may have to be cancelled. Don’t let the idea of rain dampen your spirits; plan now to come out, get involved and enjoy! Pre-registration forms are available at Crum’s Bait and Tackle on Highway 98 in Panacea and Circle J on 319 in Medart. You can also click here to download and print the registration form!

This article originally published on April 18, 2007.

Written by :