Recreational Fishing Alliance Sponsors North Atlantic Shark Tournament
OutdoorHub 06.17.14
Massachusetts Contest to Support Your Right to Fish
The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) is pleased to announce its co-sponsorship of the first annual North Atlantic Shark Tournament, alongside the Boston Bruins and The Fisherman magazine. This tournament is designed to combine offshore anglers’ passion for the sport of big-game shark fishing and the need to fund the fight for recreational fishermen’s right to fish.
The North Atlantic Shark Tournament is a tribute to fishing. It is a not-for-profit event, run by fishermen with extensive tournament experience out of the port of New Bedford, MA. Fully 100 percent of the profits will be used to support organizations with a track record of battling to keep our coastal waters open to recreational fishing, including RFA.
The fishing days will be July 18th and 19th, with an awards banquet on Saturday night and a “Spiked Coffee” farewell party the morning of July 20th, hosted by Shark Bite Coffee. There will be an outstanding opportunity to win big-money prizes, and the chance to fish world-class shark grounds.
On top of all this there will be a raffle loaded with great fishing gear and other prizes. The Boston Bruins, So-Lo Gaffs, Monahan’s Marine, The Fisherman magazine, Green Harbor Bait & Tackle, Toyota of Dartmouth, Sea Fuel’s Marine, Fishbone Knives, TowboatUS, RnR Marine, and CMS Tackle have all contributed generously. To top it off there will be a 13-foot Carolina Skiff, motor and trailer donated by Atlantic Boats in Wareham, and if a Massachusetts state record shark is landed, the lucky entrant will win a 2014 Toyota Tundra CrewMax pickup truck furnished by Toyota of Dartmouth.
And finally, Shark Bite Coffee has donated a three-day oceanfront weekend in Truro, MA, to be raffled off among those who purchase 12-ounce of their delicious fresh-ground coffee.
Three species of sharks will be accepted at the two daily weigh-in periods, from 4 pm to 8 pm Friday and 3 pm to 6 pm Saturday. State and university marine scientists will be on hand to collect valuable data, and the public will also have an opportunity to ask questions of the biologists.
During the weigh-ins there will be live music and family entertainment, including a festival with vendors and boating safety drills. The event is free to the public, and is being created to bring families together on the water in an authentic New England seaport where fishing is still a way of life.
The tournament is working with the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, so entry fees can be considered charitable deductions for tax purposes. And, for those who would like to fish the tournament but do not have a suitable boat, there are several charter boats with experienced USCG-certified captains available for hire.
Saturday night is the awards and fund-raising banquet in a tent overlooking the waterfront, with cocktails from sponsors L. Knife & Sons Lagers and Papa’s Pilar Rum. A delicious New England dinner will be featured, along with live music under the stars, awards, raffles, and fish tales!
For more information visit www.sharksfundfishing.com.
