OCARC fishing is August tradition

The OCARC Fishing Tournament provides more than a chance for local amateur anglers to win money for their catches. The supports clients at the sheltered workshop and brings people together to celebrate the special adults.

The tournament is always held on the first Friday and Saturday of August and this Saturday will be the 36th. Thanks to local businesses, prize money this year is going up with $500 for the top prize in the four major categories, bass, speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. Second prize for those fish will be $250 with $150 for third place.

Entree fee is only $30 and people can still enter by contacting Sandy McCormack of OCARC through 409-886-2839 from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day this week or at the office, 905 W. Park Avenue in Orange during the same hours, or through the group's website.

Fishing hours are from 5 p.m. Friday, August 2, through 5 p.m. Saturday, August 3. Certifications will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, August 3, at the Orange Boat Ramp off Simmons Drive. The weigh-in will be at 5 p.m. at the Riverside Pavilion at the boat ramp, which is along the Sabine River.

This year vendors and food trucks are being added to turn attract more members of the public to attend. McCormack said OCARC is not asking for donations from the vendors, which will include Binky's Snocones and Stars of Gate City selling brisket, ribs, fish, and funnel cake. Also, OCARC will be selling their traditional sack lunches of a hot link on bun, chips, and a soda for $5.

Also, former fishing captain and guide Robert Vail will be selling his hand carved nature designs including fish and birds common in Southeast Texas.

A number of businesses have donated items and gift baskets to be part of drawings with chances for some prizes costing $1 and some $10. Gift baskets include one valued at $200 from Mathews Jewelers Orange, plus one from Child's Ace Hardware.

OCARC is a non-profit local group started in 1956 to serve the needs of special adults and their parents or caregivers. The clients have a place to stay and socialize during the day, plus they work at producing goods to earn money.

OCARC products include a variety of printing and engraving, including printing signs and banners, and engraving plaques and trophies.

For a short time in the 1980s, OCARC began making fishing lures and tackle. That gave OCARC Director John Thomas the idea to hold a fishing tournament as a fundraiser, plus promote the new product.

Though the tackle project didn't last, the tournament has. And not only is it a fundraiser, it's a way for the clients to get out and enjoy the festival and the fish that are caught.

McCormack said all fish caught are used for a fish fry for the clients and their parents or caretakers. Members of the Orange Boating Club take the fish from the tournament, clean and cook them to serve along with side dishes.

McCormack said in the beginning, people entering the tournament would volunteer to take a client with them fishing. But liability problems and insurance stopped that practice. However, some clients have family members take them fishing and they are allowed to enter the tournament. Last year, a couple of clients won cash prizes.

This year, the big prize sponsorships are Gopher Industries, Dow, Chevron Phillips, and Special Angels Rodeo, a local non-profit that holds a rodeo each fall for special needs children and adults.

Categories for fish prizes besides the four major varieties are catfish, white perch, sunfish, croaker, black drum, grinnel, mudcat, and appaloosa redfish.