Billfish tourney underway
BY DAN PARKER SOUTH JETTY REPORTER

The Port Aransas Masters Billfish Tournament got under way yesterday, Wednesday, June 20, and continues through Saturday, June 23.

Eligible species in the tournament are blue and white marlin, sailfish, wahoo, tuna and dolphin.

Tournament directors are promoting catch and release of billfish by setting the eligible fish lengths above the National Marine Fisheries Service requirements.

The minimum length for blue marlin is 101 inches, for white marlin and sailfish the minimum length is 68 inches.

Although blue marlin over 350 pounds may be brought to the dock, the point system encourages catch and release of all billfish.

Wahoo, tuna and dolphin must be weighed in for points.

The tournament's registration fee includes six social tickets for all activities, caps and t-shirts. Extra social tickets may be purchased for $30 each. Caps and t-shirts will be available for purchase at registration.

The tournament opens Wednesday, June 20, with a registration party from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. upstairs at Trout Street Bar and Grill. It will include hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.

Late registration will be available from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, June 21, at Trout Street Bar and Grill.

Boats may depart from their port of choice at 6 p.m.

Fishing begins at 6 a.m. Friday, June 22, and ends at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 23.

The weigh station at Fisherman's Wharf will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, and the final weigh in deadline is 6 p.m. Saturday.

A dinner at The Upper Deck at Trout Street Bar and Grill will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and awards will be presented starting at 8:30 p.m.

Proceeds from the tournament, will go to the Fred Rhodes Memorial Fund, a non-profit organization that benefits young people throughout the Coastal Bend and beyond in a variety of ways.

Proceeds come from the tournament 's $800-per-boat, tax-deductible entry fee. The fund also will donate $100 per boat entry to the M.L. Walker II Scholarship Fund.

Fred Rhodes, who died in 1986, was a Live Oak County rancher, frequent visitor to Port Aransas and avid fisherman. The Fred Rhodes Memorial Fund was established one year after his death. The fund has distributed more than $100,000 to causes involving youth throughout South Texas over the past 20 years, said Fred Rhodes' son, Riley Rhodes, director of the PAM tournament.

Money from the fund has helped causes involving children from Port Aransas, Corpus Christi, Live Oak County, San Patricio County and other areas. The fund has helped pay for baseball uniforms for Port Aransas children, funded 4H and Future Farmers of America organizations in other parts of South Texas and more.