“We are excited to launch this tournament in a new format this year,” said Laura Early, Satilla Riverkeeper. “The Satilla River Fishing Tournament has been a fun way to celebrate the Satilla River, her bounty, and unique recreational opportunities with the community.”
This year, participants will register and record their catches through a smart phone app called FishDonkey. The app is free to download, and spectators can watch the leaderboards during the tournament, as well. There will be no in-person gathering this year and will allow anglers to participate and still practice social distancing. The app will allow participants to enter their fish into the competition and see in real-time who is at the top of the leaderboards for the duration of the tournament.
With the river in the floodplains for such an extended period this year, as the river level starts to come down, the fishing should be great this spring, said Early.
All rules and registration information are available at www.satillariverkeeper.org/tournament.html. The entry fee is $23 per adult and youth under 16 years old accompanied by a registered adult may fish for free. Registration is open now. Each participant will receive an official measuring “bump board” to measure, photograph, and then upload their catch to the FishDonkey app. The official measuring devices have been graciously sponsored by Waycross Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Participants who register by April 1, 2021 will receive their “bump boards” by mail. All late registrants (after April 1st) must make arrangements to pick up their official “bump boards” from one of these locations:
- Waycross City Hall, 417 Pendleton St, Waycross, GA (Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm)
- Deep Bend Landing, 164 Deep Bend Lane, Waynesville, GA (By appointment only 912-222-1819)
- Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce, 114 N. Peterson Ave Suite 205, Douglas, GA (Monday – Friday, 8:30am-5pm)
All fish caught during the tournament from any public waters on the Satilla River or any of its tributaries can be entered in the tournament. Participants can fish from boats, kayaks, canoes, or from the bank but must be registered as a team with at least two members.
$1,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the top catch measured by length in each of five categories:
Longest Redbreast $200
Longest Redbreast Stringer (3 fish) $350 sponsored by Brantley Telephone Company
Longest Other Panfish $150
Longest Native Catfish $150
Longest Largemouth Bass $150
Note: Largest fish is defined as the longest fish in length using the official Satilla Riverkeeper supplied measuring board. Catch and release is encouraged (but not required) by the Satilla Riverkeeper.
All participants will receive a 1-year membership to Satilla Riverkeeper. The Satilla Riverkeeper is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect, restore and educate about the ecological values and unique beauty of the Satilla River.
This tournament is made possible by local sponsors and partners including: Brantley Telephone Company, Waycross Convention & Visitors Bureau, Douglas Rotary Club, Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, Deep Bend Landing, Clay and Wendy Montague, Greg and Joan Williford, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce, Peach State Fly Fishing, Wildlife Resources Division of Georgia DNR. To learn more about sponsor opportunities, please contact Laura Early, riverkeeper@satillariverkeeper.org, 912-421-8972.