More than 40 teens from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston took part in the 4th Annual Fan Pier Celebrity Youth Fishing Tournament on Thursday, July 17th.
The tournament began at 7:30 with a quick breakfast at on the docks and a few encouraging words from tournament host Joe Fallon, who reminded the captains and anglers that he expected everyone that this event is about “catching not fishing”.
The teens fished on 12 charter boats, whose captains volunteered their services to share their passion for fishing on Boston Harbor with the next generation of anglers. “What a great way to spend the day, fishing for codfish, flounder, black sea bass and big stripers just a few miles from Fan Pier” said tournament organizer Captain Mike Fallon. “The memories we helped make today will last a lifetime.” After the weigh-in ceremony, the captains, crew and kids enjoyed a picnic lunch at Fan Pier with sports stars and celebrities donated by J. Pace & Sons.
“It was great to have so many celebrities on hand for the tournament,” said Bruce Berman of Save the Harbor Save the Bay. “Thanks to Jackie Bradley Jr. and Will Middlebrooks from the Red Sox, Jenny Dell, from CBS Sports, Dave Marciano, star of Wicked Tuna, boxers Rodney Toney and Tommy McInerney, as well as former Patriots Steve King and Tim Fox for helping to make the day so much fun for everyone.”
This year’s tournament raised more than $10,000 to support Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s free youth environmental education programs, which will connect more than 15,000 underserved youth and teens to Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands this summer.
Thanks to tournament hosts Joe and Mike Fallon and tournament sponsors the Fallon Company, Falco Capital, Circle Furniture, the Shawn Thornton Foundation and all the captains and crew who made this great event such a success.
This years winners and their catch:
• Marco Savage, 18 of Charlestown won the boys division for biggest fish by landing a 40-inch striped bass while fishing with Captain Frank Duggan on the Outer Limits 2.
• Angela Ruiz, 13, of Chelsea, fishing with Captain Charlie Gibbons on the Belle and Roza Wineh, 16, from Roxbury, fishing on the Outer Limits 2 with Captain Frank Duggan, tied for first place in the girls division with a matched pair of 28 inch striped bass.
• Candido Barros, 19 of Jamaica Plain won the prize for most fish caught, catching 5 black sea bass and flounder aboard the Belle with Capt. Charlie Gibbons.
• Jazeel Mendez, 17 of Dorchester, fishing on the Dive Inn with Captain Steve Sacco came in second, catching three fish including a 25 -inch codfish.