Kids fishing event kicks off tourney season

By NICK WALTER

nwalter@bradenton.com

The children's T-shirts were in a variety of bright colors - pink, red, green and so on - and some of them, once washed, shrunk to the size that might fit a baby.

But that wasn't the point.

For the first Kids Fishing Tournament on the Green Bridge on June 13, 1987, a clothing retailer on Anna Maria Island donated them, and the message inscribed on them symbolized one of the tournament's goals. Basically, the shirts read: "Get a kid fishing. It's a better prescription than drugs."

It all started in a conversation at the Parrish house of Bill Lohman, publisher of "Fishing Monthly" magazine. Andy "Doc" Lee, a freshwater guide (then a fly-fishing forest ranger from Oneco) and Lohman, who were members of the Florida Fish and Game Association, tossed some ideas until they came up with a kids fishing tournament.

The Fish and Game Association agreed to sponsor it, and donations ensued. Tropicana pitched in 6,000 cartons of orange juice, a representative from Chick-fil-A raised $300 in cash and donated 1,500 meals, and, finally, there were those flamboyant little T-shirts.

"As soon as we saw how many applications came," Lee said, "I thought, 'Good grief. This is gonna be huge.' "

Over 1,500 kids entered the tournament.

The next day, the first sentence written by former Herald Outdoors writer Jerry Hill in a June 18, 1987 article read: "You wonder how many youngsters caught the first fish of their lives at Saturday's Kids' Fishing Tournament."

And from there, the tournament launched into a stream of success.

Now in its 22nd year, this Saturday's Kids Fishing Tournament kicks off a series of May tournaments.

Fitting it would start with the kids, who may one day fill the boats of bigger tournaments, such as the 25th annual Sam Crosthwait Memorial Invitational at the Bradenton Yacht Club.

Or the BGFGA Invitational Tarpon Tournament in Boca Grande Pass May 20-22. At the same time, the Sarasota Sportfishing Anglers Club Tarpon Tournament begins its first day of the five-week fish-off.

June is highlighted by the second annual redfish tournament at Coquina Beach (June 7), and the Pete Turner Memorial Fishing Classic, sponsored by Palmetto Kiwanis, at Regatta Point Marina (June 20-21).

This Saturday, children ages 7-14 are eligible and can register on site between 7-8 a.m. Fishing will take place from 8-10 a.m. and will be followed by a free lunch and awards ceremony.

Entry is free. Bait is provided; no tackle boxes are allowed.

Twenty-one years after the first kids tournament, Capt. Lee does not want full credit for starting it.

"Unless they want to call it the Capt. Doc Lee Tournament," Lee joked. "When I die, that can be my legacy."

Don't mind Lee.

Fish on, kids.