Red, White & Blue Fourth of July
Family Fishing Tournament Monday, July 4

ROYAL PALM BEACH - The 21st annual Red, White & Blue Fourth of July Fishing Tournament is set for 6 a.m. to noon Monday, July 4, with the weigh-in and headquarters at Lakeside Challenger Park in Royal Palm Beach.

Founded in 1990 by fishing enthusiast Tom Sawyer of Wellington, the completely free of charge tournament has become one of the top Independence Day traditions in the Royal Palm Beach-Wellington area. Sawyer, of Wellington, gave control of the event to the Royal Palm Beach Bassmasters two years ago after building it into an event that average hundreds of participants.

Sawyer also started the Children's Holiday Fishing Tournament at Lake Wellington, on the first Saturday of each Christmas holiday break, and has taught fishing camps for the Village of Wellington Parks and Recreation Department.

The Monday Red, White & Blue tourney features age classifications for children younger than 6; 7 to 9; 10 to 12; 13 to 19; and adult-child in bass and "other" fish (such as catfish, panfish and gar) categories. Fish may be caught anywhere, according to Florida regulations (bass must be kept alive and in good condition via aerated buckets or tanks), but must be weighed in at the Challenger Park headquarters. Each participant may weigh in only three bass.

Weigh-ins will end around 11 a.m.

Anyone may enter and every participant will leave with a donated prize, ranging from tackle packs to valuable rods, reels, tackle boxes, guided fish tours and more - thanks to tourney sponsors. Drinks and pizza are provided free.

Last year, Lincoln Colucci caught the big bass, which weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces. Gene Smith caught the big "other" fish, a mudfish weighing 4 pounds, 4 ounces. Hundreds are fish are weighed each year, some creating a stir among the anglers congregating at Lake Challenger.

Lake Challenger is just north of the State Road 80 - Royal Palm Beach Blvd. intersection, the site of the annual Village of Royal Palm Beach Fourth of July Star Spangled Spectacular celebration and fireworks on Monday afternoon and evening. See: http://www.royalpalmbeach.com/Pages/Star_Spangled_Spectacular_2011.pdf

For additional information about the Bassmasters, including upcoming tournaments, e-mail President Mike Gershberg at doctorrehab@aol.com.