Gate Jacksonville Fishing Rodeo Set for June 7-10 at Metropolitan Park
OutdoorHub 05.31.12
The 3rd ANNUAL GATE JACKSONVILLE FISHING RODEO is set for June 7–10 at Metropolitan Park in downtown Jacksonville and is surely one of the largest fishing events in northeast Florida and southern Georgia. This year’s rodeo has 18 different species to fish for in offshore and inshore saltwater plus freshwater. What makes this event so special is that everyone has species that they feel comfortable fishing for. Weigh any one of the species and your name goes into the drawing for two boat, motor, and trailer packages. First, a 21’ Contender Boat, Mercury Outboard, sitting on a custom aluminum Loadmaster Trailer valued at over $50,000. The second prize will be a 13’ Carolina Skiff with a Honda Outboard and a Majic Tilt trailer presented by First Coast St. Augustine Boat and Marine.
Chris Kellem, from Jacksonville, Florida, won the Grand Prize boat package in last year’s drawing plus another $1,000 for winning first place in speckled trout. You could be next!
Fishing begins on Friday morning, June 8th and ends on Sunday June 10th at one o’clock. Some species end on Saturday night so see official rules at JacksonvilleRodeo.Com for clarification. Lines in at 6 AM on Friday morning and you can fish day or night up until Sunday afternoon. King Mackerel and Redfish Jackpots have special times. Scales open on Friday and Saturday at ten am and close at 7 pm. Come and go as you please. It’s fun, exciting, and you’re really never out of the action till the event is over.
Species this year include catfish, bream, speckled perch, and largemouth bass in freshwater, plus flounder, sheepshead, redfish, trout, and whiting in inshore saltwater. Offshore you can catch barracuda, grouper, king mackerel, menhaden, vermilion snapper, mangrove snapper, dolphin, pompano, and cobia.
You can fish by boat or kayak, off a pier, dock, in the surf, or from the banks of the St. Johns River or its tributaries.
Each species pays $1,000 for the biggest fish, $500 for second, and $200 for third, plus there’s a $250 daily prize for the biggest fish in each species Friday and Saturday. All this for just a $40.00 per angler entry fee.
Best of all, you can bring your catch to the scales at Metropolitan Park in downtown Jacksonville by car, truck, or in your boat.
Then there are two Jackpots, Redfish and Kingfish, with great payouts. The Kingfish Jackpot is the first event of the Southern Kingfish Association’s Division 5 season.
Tickets for the Rodeo are available at all GATE stations or at Strike Zone Fishing beginning May 1st.
Sponsors include Gate Petroleum, Mercury Outboards, Contender Boats, Loadmaster Trailers, First Coast St. Augustine Boat and Marine, Monster Energy, Hickory Bluff Marine, Swedish Match, 5-Hour Energy, Nestle Waters, Coastal Angler Magazine, The Ice Man, Strike Zone Fishing, Swisher International, Jack Link’s, Dandee, Miller Lite, and many more.
You’re going to love this big event, and look forward to seeing you at the Captain’s Meeting on Thursday night, June 7th at 7:30 PM. Even for people who don’t fish it’s fun and exciting to come out and see all the great fish being brought to the scales plus there’s lots of boats on display from area dealers, other vendors, and food and drink. Scales are open Friday and Saturday from 10 AM till 7 PM, and on Sunday from 10AM till 1 PM.
On Saturday Angler’s for Conservation along with GATE Petroleum and the Southern Kingfish Association will host a “Hook Kids on Fishing” event Saturday, June 9th at Metro Park in Jacksonville. The event is to be held in conjunction with the 3rd Annual Jacksonville Fishing Rodeo June 7-10 and is FREE for kids ages 6 to 16. The event will be from 9-11 AM (kids and parents should show up no later than 8:30AM) There will be clinics for kids on casting, conservation, fishing safety, knot tying, catch and release tactics and more. Professional guides and knowledgeable anglers from across Florida will work with the children in a safe, hands-on learning experience. The first 100 kids to register will receive a FREE rod, reel and tackle box courtesy of Anglers for Conservation. YOU MUST REGISTER. Call us today at 904-461-6773 to sign your kids up or to volunteer.
Anglers for Conservation is a 501(c) (3) rated non-profit organization based in Satellite Beach, Florida. Founded in 2007, the AFC’s mission is to create a new generation of coastal stewards using community-based angling education, habitat restoration and applied conservation science. Through funding from individual donors and grants from foundations and the government, the AFC will offer its programs to various aspects of the general public and the community.
www.anglersforconservation.com
