The first annual Saugatuck Cup fishing tournament will take place on October 3, 2009 as a one-day, catch and release contest where anglers across Fairfield County will utilize fly or spin rods and compete for Bass, Blues and False Albacore in Long Island Sound. The tournament is open to 30 boats and is presented in conjunction with Westport Outfitters, the full service boating and angling superstore located at 609 Riverside Avenue in Westport, CT. Prominent figures in the sport, including author/artist/angler James Prosek, Fly Tying innovator Eric Peterson and author and saltwater fishing expert, Lou Tabory will be in attendance.
The Saugatuck Cup fishing tournament was developed to benefit the Children’s Tumor Foundation and Memorial Sloan Kettering Pediatric Cancer Center, offering anglers a chance to “make a REEL difference.” Interested sports enthusiasts can go to www.saugatuckcup.com or visit Westport Outfitters to learn more about the tournament, obtain entry forms and get specifics about event-day components such as silent auction and raffle to aid charities.
The Saugatuck Cup was created by lifetime local resident, avid sportsman and devoted father, Matt Spengler, whose son James was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis, a little known tumor disease as well as a rare form of cancer at the age of two. James is now a thriving little boy who is just beginning to get his sea legs fishing tides with his Dad. “Watching my son and numerous children like him, go through a fight for their life has profoundly affected me. I have realized that organizations like the Children’s Tumor Foundation and Memorial Sloan Kettering have not only saved my son’s life, but they have saved mine too. I thought this fishing tournament could be a good first step in raising awareness and giving back,” said Matt Spengler, Tournament Director.
Eric Johnson, owner of Westport Outfitters said, “I jumped at the chance, not only to help out a friend, and offer up our facility as a staging ground, but to support a great cause. We are really excited about this event and will look forward to making it a yearly occurrence.”
_About Westport Outfitters:
For more than 20 years, Westport Outfitters has been supplying recreational anglers and boating enthusiasts from Connecticut and New York with the equipment, supplies and know-how they need to enjoy the ultimate saltwater and freshwater fishing experience. Everyone here at Westport Outfitters has extensive experience with all of the gear and equipment we sell. When we are not in the store, you can find us wading rivers or casting to pods of blues out on the sound. _www.westportoutfitters.com
About The Saugatuck Cup:
The Saugatuck Cup fishing tournament was created as a one-day catch and release contest where anglers across Fairfield County will utilize fly or spin rods and compete for Bass, Blues and False Albacore in Long Island Sound. The tournament is open to 30 boats and offers anglers an opportunity to make a reel difference, by benefiting the Children’s Tumor Foundation and Memorial Sloan Kettering Pediatric Cancer Center. For more information on the Saugatuck Cup visit _www.saugatuckcup.com or contact Tournament Director, Matt Spengler at matt.spengler@thesaugatuckcup.com._
