Satilla Riverkeeper is pleased to announce the 2018 Annual A.J. Strickland “King of the River” Satilla River Fishing Tournament, to be held on May 5, 2018, with weigh-in hosted at Tindall Enterprises in Blackshear, GA.
“We are excited to bring this tournament back again this year,” said Laura Early, Satilla Riverkeeper. “Despite some crazy weather last year was a great success, and we are looking forward to celebrating the Satilla River, her bounty, and unique beauty with the community.”
Registration is open now and closes at 5 p.m. the day before the event. Adult registration is $25 and youth under 16 years old accompanied by a register adult fish for free. Early registrations will receive a FREE tournament t-shirt featuring a largemouth bass. Early registration deadline is April 24.
Weigh-in opens at Noon and all participants must be in the weigh-in line by 4 p.m. to be eligible for cash prizes.
All fish caught by fishing pole the day of the tournament from anywhere on the Satilla River or any of its tributaries can be entered in the tournament. Adults can fish from boats, kayaks, canoes or from the bank but must be registered as a team with at least two members. Interested participants can find registration forms and rules and regulations online at www.satillariverkeeper.org/tournament.html.
More than $1,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the top catch by weight in each of five categories: $125 for the largest redbreast sunfish and $100 will be awarded to the fisher with the largest native catfish, the largest panfish other than a redbreast, the largest largemouth bass and the largest mudfish.
Additionally, a grand slam prize of $300 will be paid to the team with the largest (total weight) aggregate total for any three of the five categories. Another $300 will be paid to the team with a stringer of the largest total weight for any three redbreast sunfish. All participants will receive tournament t-shirts and a one-year membership to Satilla Riverkeeper.
Cash prize sponsorships are as follows:
- ● Red Myers’ Largest Redbreast pays $125, sponsored by John S. Myers P.C, Attorney at Law, St. Mary’s.
- ● Largest Native Catfish pays $100, sponsored by Brantley Telephone Company, Nahunta. (Flathead catfish are not eligible.)
- ● Largest Panfish (not Redbreast) pays $100, sponsored by Tindall Enterprises, Blackshear.
- ● Largest Largemouth Bass pays $100, sponsored by Brantley Telephone Company, Nahunta.
- ● Largest Bowfin (mudfish) pays $100, sponsored by Blackshear Exchange Club.
‘Junior Strickland’ Grand Slam Prize pays $300, sponsored by the A.J. Strickland Family.
Largest Redbreast Stringer Prize pays $300, sponsored by Capt. Bert’s Quality Lures, Waycross.
Fish caught by youth can be entered into any of the cash prize categories. In addition, all youth participants will receive a special prize, and be entered into a raffle drawing for fishing gear donated by Winge’s Bait and Tackle and a kayak trip for two donated by Southeast Adventure Outfitters.
The Department of Natural Resources personnel and a tournament team will assist throughout the day. The public is invited to drop by and see the weigh-in and the winners.
This tournament will serve as a fundraiser for the Satilla Riverkeeper non-profit organization, whose mission it is to protect, restore and educate about the Satilla River. The event also serves to celebrate the newly established Satilla River Water Trail, a ‘hiking with a paddle’ project embraced by many communities along the river.
Last year’s tournament, attracted nearly 100 participants, including local youth, who fished the Satilla River waters and its tributaries. Several anglers brought in panfish over one pound each.
The tournament is named after the late and beloved Satilla Riverkeeper board member, Satilla River enthusiast, and Pierce County native, A.J. Strickland. ‘Junior Strickland’ taught countless local children how to fish and respect the Satilla River waters.