Judging by the results of the Second Annual SCISF Tournament, it’s easy to see there are many special young anglers taking kindly to surf fishing. In fact, family members and young anglers fishing the Young Adult and Junior Angler Divisions dominated much of the SCISF Tournament awards ceremony, which took place Saturday, October 19th.
Rubin Hendrix, and his young son, Warren, fished extensively together during the tournament and walked away with major prizes. Rubin won the overall ‘International Surf Angler of the Year’ award plus the DOA Lures $1000 Prize for the longest catch overall (number of inches) of six species. Both last year and this year Rubin managed to land the largest snook, while Warren caught this year’s largest black drum.
Space Coast Reel Anglers (SCRA) club members Dilan and Kayla Arnold fished the tournament for their second year. Dilan lost what would have been a prize winning tarpon he hooked and fought from his kayak in the ocean near Patrick Air Force Base. Young Adult participant and Space Coast Reel Anglers member, Ryan Vetsch, took the first place prize for Spanish mackerel.
It was a family affair for many of the participating anglers. Asher Wieder fished with his best friend, his mother, Diane Asher, and Sebastian Noel fished with his dad, Andy Noel, and placed high in the tournament.
Founder of the Space Coast Reel Anglers, local fishing guide and SCISFT committee member, Captain Glynn Austin, said “this tournament provides both young and older anglers a great opportunity to explore the endless fishing opportunities available fishing the surf along Brevard’s 72 miles of beaches. Families can fish together with great success and for little cost from the Space Coast beaches for dozens of different species year-round”!
Dr. Mitch Roffer, founder of Roffers Ocean Fishing Forecast, took home the Native Redfish kayak, provided by Titusville’s Kayaks by Bo. Dr. Roffer caught the longest cumulative length of six species by a paddler. “This is a wonderful tournament for both serious and casual anglers. The surf fishing here is as good as it gets anywhere”!
Wearing a huge smile, Lydia LeNuyen took home a hand-carved redfish donated by Captain Steve ‘Da Bonz Craver’ Bowman for catching the largest red drum of the tournament. Patricia Greene of Pierson, Florida, won the Overall Woman’s Angler Award.
The local and statewide support from fishing related businesses for this event was overwhelming. This support will go a long way towards recreational fishing education for kids and their parents, and also to grassroots fishing conservation.
Planning has already begun for next year’s tournament. Learn more about event sponsors and other information by going to: surffishingtournament.com.