JACKSONVILLE, FL – FEB. 14, 2006 – JaxKayakFishing.com, Northeast Florida’s online kayak fishing community, has announced plans for the world’s largest kayak fishing tournament to be held in Jacksonville, Florida on May 19-20. The 3rd annual Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic promotes kayak fishing in Jacksonville with a fun conservation-oriented format and raises funds for children’s programs through Daniel Memorial.
Tournament officials expect that more than 200 kayak anglers will target Redfish, Trout, and Flounder in a catch-photo-release format competing for more than $35,000 in prizes and gifts. Last year’s tournament had a world’s largest attendance of 170 paddlers with more than $30,000 in prizes and gifts. The event raised $7,500 for local children’s charities.
The captain’s meeting is scheduled for May 19 at Jacksonville’s Strike-Zone Fishing Center. Check-in, awards ceremonies and a banquet is set for May 20 at Sneakers Sports Grille of Jacksonville Beach. The entry fee is $60 until April 1 and $75 after. The fee includes a captain’s bag for the first 170 entrants, rights to fish, entry into the tournament raffle and banquet. Anglers will be launching and fishing at any inshore location within Duval, Nassau, and St. John’s counties.
Trophies, kayaks, fishing gear and gift certificates will be awarded for first place through fourth place finishers in four open divisions and first place through third place in two fly fishing divisions. Divisions include: the redfish-trout-flounder slam, biggest redfish, biggest trout, biggest flounder, biggest red-on-fly and biggest trout-on-fly. There are also awards for top Jr. Angler, top Lady Angler, a Mystery Fish prize, a raffle for the Best Dang Tackle Box, and a general raffle that includes more than $15,000 worth of kayaks, equipment and tackle.
The tournament is co-sponsored by many of Jacksonville’s fine kayak and fishing retailers, including Strike-Zone Fishing, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Black Creek Outfitters, Salty Feather, Black Fly Outfitters, Ft. George Island Surf Shop, All Wet Sports, Thrifty Outdoors and Army Navy Outdoors. The world’s leading fishing kayak manufacturers are also sponsors: Malibu Kayaks, Hobie Kayaks, Wilderness Systems Kayaks, Hurricane Kayaks, Perception Kayaks, Adventure Elements, Ocean Kayaks, Emotion Kayaks, Old Town Canoe&Kayaks;, and Cobra Kayaks.
Many other prominent national brands such as Temple Fork Outfitters, Guy Harvey, Berkley, Mirrolure, Costa Del Mar, Tsunami, MegaBait, Sure Catch Jigs, Lowrance and DOA Lures are also major supporters. The Outdoors Show, Florida Fishing Weekly, Fishing Connection, Onshore-Offshore Magazine, Florida Sportsman Magazine, Fly Fishing & Saltwater Magazine, Kayak Fisherman Magazine, Canoe&Kayak; Magazine, Paddler Magazine and Great Atlantic Outfitters are promoting and advertising the event.
Kayak fisherman can register for the tournament online at www.JaxKayakFishing.com. They can also pick up an entry form at any of the tournament sponsors’ locations. More information and complete rules are also available online.
