IT’S OCARC TOURNAMENT TIME

Well…..here we are for the 30th consecutive year getting our boats and fishing tackle ready for this weekend’s annual OCARC fishing tournament.It is the main fund raiser for John Thomas and the folks at the Center located on 8^th and Park and they look forward to you and your family joining them.

Lots of phone calls, lots of miles on the truck and an unspoken pact with Mother Nature are all necessary elements of hosting yet another successful event.While the OCARC is blessed with a solid list of sponsors that support this tournament every year, it still requires the added support of area anglers to make it all happen.Winning money for catching the right fish is exciting and a lot of folks will make their way to the winner’s stand Saturday afternoon.You may not win one of the top prizes of $250, but there will still be three winners in 12 categories collecting trophies and a share of the $2950 in total prize money.Raffles, links and drinks and drawings for prizes are also a part of the afternoon festivities.The only aspect the folks at the Center cannot control is the weather, but even that should not prevent you from registering early.They will not send you out in hazardous conditions and the nominal entry fee certainly won’t break anyone.The entry fee is less than the cost of an oil change or supper for two at a local restaurant! While Thomas and his crew are very much into, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” there will be two minor changes this year.The weigh-in site has been moved from the City launch to Destroyer Street off Simmons to take advantage of the shade and for the first time in many years, they will raise the entry fee a whopping $5.For more information or an entry form you can drop by the Center or give them a call at 409-886-1363.The Orange County CCA Chapter will also host their annual fund raiser banquet at the Convention and Expo Center on hwy.

1442 on August 10^th .The event draws an overflow crowd every year and based on early sales, this year will be no exception.I am not sure if they have any cooperate tables remaining at this time as those packages go pretty quickly.The items up for silent and live auctions are super and the steak supper and drinks are worth the cost of the ticket alone.Even a single $20 raffle ticket can win you a great prize.Items in the auctions include everything from guided fishing and hunting trips to custom rods and firearms.

Not only is this a fun-filled and enjoyable evening, but the proceeds from your ticket ensure the future of recreational saltwater fishing.For more information contact Scott Bandy at 409-988-3667 or Lou Moore at 409-988-4845.Better do it pretty quickly! If Mother Nature cooperates, it is going to take a good fish to win the $250 first place check in the Big Four categories.Winning Gopher’s Appaloosa red money also depends on a lot of luck as it is based strictly on the number of spots on the fish.

I am always amazed at the number of folks that start fishing Friday evening and fish all night as well.Some of them do that just to secure their favorite spot before the crowd arrives Saturday morning.

Andrew found the schooling reds!