PAM registration is tonight

Fish and help raise money for area youth this weekend.

The Port Aransas Masters Billfish Tournament benefiting the Fred Rhodes Memorial Fund is starts today, Thursday, June 25, and ends with a brunch and awards on Sunday, June 28.

Fred Rhodes, who died in 1986, was a Live Oak County rancher, frequent visitor to Port Aransas and avid fisherman. The Fred Rhodes Memorial Pavilion in Roberts Point Park is named in his honor.

Established one year after Rhodes’ death, the Fred Rhodes Memorial Fund has distributed more than $100,000 to causes involving youth throughout South Texas over the years since, said Fred Rhodes’ son, Riley Rhodes, director of the PAM tournament.

Some recent recipients were Trinityby the-Sea Day School, the Port Aransas Junior Boatmen, Driscoll Children’s Hospital and fire victims in Largarto.

The memorial fund, a non-profit organization, also contributed substantial funds for the building of the Fred Rhodes Memorial Pavilion in Roberts Point Park.

A $100 donation per boat entry is made each year to the M.L. Walker II Scholarship Fund, which is awarded to Port Aransas High School graduates.

The tournament is all-release for billfish. Meat fish must be weighed.

The $800 per boat entry fee includes six each of social tickets, shirts and caps.

Eligible billfish are blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish. Eligible meat fish are wahoo, tuna and dolphin.

Registration for the tournament will be from 3 to 7 p.m. tonight at the Trout Street Bar and Grill Upper Deck, 104 W. Cotter St., with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

A mandatory captain’s meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at the registration.

Registered boats may depart from their port of choice at 7 p.m. tonight, and fishing begins at 6 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, June 26.

The weigh station, at Virginia’s on the Bay, 815 Trout St., will be open from 6 to 10 p.m.

Fishing stops at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, and dock time is 6 p.m. at Virginia’s on the Bay.

Brunch and awards will be on Sunday, June 28, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Trout Street Bar and Grill Upper Deck.

For more information contact tournament directors Pete Fox at 749-4870 or Riley Rhodes at (361) 813-6650.