Local Key Club debuts 'Hooked on Service' fishing tournament

MANATEE -- A new fishing tournament put on by local Key Club members will help raise money for student scholarships.

"Hooked on Service" will debut Feb. 20 and 21 and will engage a new social media app to allow anglers to fish from any spot in the county. Participants can create an app, register and pay the $20 fee through the app and can take a video to measure their catch during the two-day event.

"We always want to find new, fun ways to help good causes," said Kris Gerry, a Key Club member and a senior at Manatee High School. The tournament is the brainchild of Gerry and fellow Key Club members Ian MacDonald and Chasten Whitfield. Key Clubs are service-based clubs tied to Kiwanis Clubs.

Money raised will go toward the Florida Key Club Endowment Fund. The fund is expected to give ten $1,000 scholarships in 2016. It hopes to grow to up to $1 million in future years.

The grand prize is $800 cash. Other prizes include fishing rods, reels, sunglasses and gift certificates. All participants are entered into a raffle drawing for the chance to win a deep sea fishing charter from Hubbard's Marina.

Event sponsors include SignZoo, FishBrain and Boyd Insurance.

To register, download FishBetter from Google Play or through the App Store, you can also visit fishbettercom.

Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter@MeghinDelaney.

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 2:59 PM with the headline "Local Key Club debuts 'Hooked on Service' fishing tournament ."