Today was the last from shore fishing tournament of the school year for the Junior Teen Anglers.  We hold all of our from shore tournaments at Harbour Pointe Park in Ft. Pierce.  The Junior's fish from 9am until 11 am then we award trophies for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place in the 5 to 8 age group and also in the 9 to 11 age group.  We also award a trophy for the biggest fish of the tournament. 

 

Today the wind was blowing and the fishing was slow!  We had a Southeast wind at 22mph and I guess it blew all the fish away.  We only had 13 fish come to the scales.  One fish really didn't make it to the scale because Ryan Causland caught and estimated 10 pound stingray!  The fish was at least 3 feet long and we didn't want to risk taking him out of the water and trying to weigh it.  This is the biggest fish anyone has ever caught at a Junior Teen Angler tournament.  Savannah Ward was the first Junior to the scale with a look down fish.  Carrie Loupe was 2nd with a puffer and then new Junior Teen Angler -- Richard Henson brought a snook.  Savannah came back twice more with a puffer and a catfish.  Dylan Brewer had a nice sandperch. 

 

 In the 9 to 11 age group Megan Miller was the first with a puffer, then Ryan with his stingray. Dylora Kohler was next with a needlefish and then Ryan with a 1 pound 14 ounce black drum.  After that Dylora returned 3 more times -- all with puffers. All fish are released.  We had two non-fish catches today -- Megan Miller caught a nice size rock!  Her shrimp was sitting right in top of the rock when she brought it in.  Mackenzie Tessier caught a fairly big crab but when it started snapping it's claws she started swinging him around and he almost clawed several people.

 

1st place - Dylora Kohler - age 11 - Village Green Elementary

 

2nd place - Ryan Causland - age 11 - Sebastian Middle School

 

3rd place - Megan Miller - age 11 - Gifford Middle School

 

 

Ryan and His Dad

Ryan's Big Catch

 

Group shot of the Juniors with their Trophies

After we awarded trophies we held a raffle.  We gave each Junior Teen Angler a raffle ticket and as Tammy Ward called out the ticket numbers the kids kept getting closer and closer to the table.  I know this is going to be a little long but I want to list each Junior, the prize and thank the person that donated it. 

 

Trevor and His Dad looking over his prizes

 Trevor Walk -coolie stuffed with fishing tackle from Capt. Joe's Bait & Tackle, Dylan Brewer - collapsible cooler from Gulfstream Lures, Ariel Vance - 2 hour inshore charter from Capt. Joe Ward, Mackenzie Tessier - a rod & reel combo from Teen Anglers, Maxwell Higgins - a rod & reel combo from Teen Anglers, Carrie Loupe - 15 pound lip gripper - Capt. Rodney Smith of Coastal Angler Magazine, Savannah Ward - hand held fish finder from Clint Walker of The Fishing Center of St. Lucie, Brennen Tessier - ARC Dehooker from Capt. Rodney Smith, Ryan Williams - an autographed copy of Fishing Made Easy from Capt. Rodney Smith, Calib Gomez - an autographed copy of Fishing Made Easy from Capt. Rodney Smith,  Megan Miller - a copy of Sport Fish of Florida book from Teen Anglers, C.J. Swinford - a visor from Teen Anglers, Serena Williams - a lavendar visor from Teen Anglers and Richard Henson, Michael Williams, Robert Williams, Robert Kinchen, Dylora Kohler and Ryan Causland all received a bait bucket, a dozen free shrimp, a coolie and a pack of soft plastic baits from Teen Anglers and Capt. Joe's Bait & Tackle.  As each Junior got their prize from me, Suzanne B. would give each one a goodie bag, a medal with their name and the Junior Teen Angler logo on it and a map of the Indian River Lagoon.  I would also like to thank Robert Kinchen Sr. for the fish id cards he donated for the goodie bags. 

Robert and His Dad Robert Sr.

 

We also have Junior Teen Angler t-shirts for sale if you didn't order one today.  You can e-mail Suzanne at alteenanglers@aol.com  to order one. 

T-shirts are $12.00 each.  They are white, short sleeved T-Shirts with the Junior Teen Angler Logo on the back.

Sizes 6-8, 10-12, 14-16 and also adult sizes small to 2x.

 

I hope everyone has a great summer and that you catch a lot of fish.  We will be e-mailing you when the tournaments start up again in August.   

 

Thanks for making Junior Teen Anglers a GREAT SUCCESS!!