North Atlantic Shark Tournament Supports RFA
OutdoorHub 07.10.14
Registration Continues For July 18th & 19th Event
The North Atlantic Shark Tournament will be run next weekend out of New Bedford, MA, offering an exciting combination of competitive sport fishing, adventure, entertainment and scientific research.
This first annual event is uniquely co-sponsored by the Boston Bruins and The Fisherman magazine as a non-profit which will contribute 100% of the profits to support organizations with a track record of battling to keep our coastal waters open to recreational fishing, including the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA).
The fishing days will be July 18th and 19th, with an awards banquet on Saturday night and a “Spiked Coffee” farewell party the morning of July 20th, hosted by Shark Bite Coffee. There will be an outstanding opportunity to win big-money prizes, and the chance to fish world-class shark grounds.
On top of all this there will be a raffle loaded with great fishing gear and other prizes. The Boston Bruins, So-Lo Gaffs, Monahan’s Marine, The Fisherman magazine, Green Harbor Bait & Tackle, Toyota of Dartmouth, Sea Fuel’s Marine, Fishbone Knives, TowboatUS, R&R Marine, and CMS Tackle have all contributed generously.
To top it off there will be a 13-foot Carolina Skiff, motor and trailer donated by Atlantic Boats in Wareham, and if a Massachusetts state record shark is landed, the lucky entrant will win a 2014 Toyota Tundra CrewMax pickup truck furnished by Toyota of Dartmouth. Also, Shark Bite Coffee has donated a three-day oceanfront weekend in Truro, MA, to be raffled off as well.
Three species of sharks will be accepted at the two daily weigh-in periods, from 4 pm to 8 pm Friday and 3 pm to 6 pm Saturday. State and university marine scientists will be on hand to collect valuable data, and the public will also have an opportunity to ask questions of the biologists.
The tournament is working with the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, so entry fees can be considered charitable deductions for tax purposes. And, for those who would like to fish the tournament but do not have a suitable boat, there are several charter boats with experienced USCG-certified captains available for hire.
“The North Atlantic Shark Tournament is a tribute to fishing,” said tournament organizer Debbie Depersia Richardson, licensed captain who spent years helping operate Bigfish II Charters out of Green Harbor. “The tournament is dedicated to the promotion of the fishing community and to the education of sustainable fishing.”
“It is a not-for-profit tournament run by avid commercial and recreational fishermen, who are truly committed to our coastal economies, fishing access and fishing rights in the setting of responsible fishing,” she added, noting that there is still time to sign up to reserve your slip at Pope’s Island Marina.
All boats are to arrive Thursday, July 17th for registration and the captains meeting. For more information visit www.sharksfundfishing.com or call 508-717-8810.
