Florida Fishing Tournament Marks Awards Date

Some $500,000 in prizes, 5,149 anglers, 15,815 catch entries and 157 tagged redfish released throughout the coastal waters of Florida made Coastal Conservation Association Florida STAR presented by Yamaha the largest and most exciting family friendly fishing competition in the state for the summer of 2016. The numbers speak for themselves, recreational anglers and sponsors loved STAR (Statewide Tournament and Anglers Rodeo).

STAR Florida, a Catch & Photo tournament, is designed to educate the general public about the importance of conservation of Florida’s marine resources and to engage more families and youth in the sport of fishing. Many of the STAR anglers and their families shared that their 2016 summer plans revolved around fishing and making entries in STAR. CCA’s state-of-the-art smart phone app eliminated the need for anglers to bring their entry to a weigh-in. To enter their catch, anglers simply entered a photo of their fish on the 2016 official measuring device via the app or website. It was not be the biggest fish that won. All division winners were determined by a drawing from the verified entries in each division except for tagged redfish, guides, conservation and the Lionfish division. STAR provided anglers of every skill level the opportunity to win.

STAR ended Labor Day, September 5 without a tagged redfish winner. During the 101 days of the competition, 20 of the 157 tagged redfish released in STAR were recaptured by anglers that were not properly registered for the tournament or did not know the rules. In order to create more excitement and because there was no STAR tagged redfish winner, STAR chose to offer a special winner’s Choice drawing; any registered adult angler who submitted an eligible species (spotted seatrout, sheepshead, snook, cobia, kingfish, dolphin or lionfish), in any division excluding the conservation and guide divisions would be placed into a winner’s CHOICE drawing for one of the remaining STAR Tagged Redfish prizes. The randomly chosen winner would have their choice of the GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab pickup truck donated by Conley Buick GMC of Bradenton or one of the donated boat, motor & trailer packages either the Contender 22 Sport, Pathfinder 2200 TRS, Hells Bay Waterman or the Sea Hunt 235 Escape all powered by Yamaha. The tackle shops, docks, boat ramps, marinas and social media all were a buzz regarding the amazing prizes in the tagged redfish division, the 13 other division prizes and the special Winner’s Choice drawing.

The climax for CCA Florida STAR, will be the Awards Banquet and Ceremony presented by The City of Haines City which will take place on October 15, 2016 from 5pm to 10pm at the Lake Eva Event Center in Haines City. It will be a spectacular night with CCA staff, sponsors and fishing celebrities awarding as many as 72 anglers nearly $275,000 in prizes with $100,000 of this being awarded to 12 youth anglers who had their catch entries drawn as winners in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Youth Scholarship Division presented by Bright House Networks.

In addition to the awards ceremony the STAR banquet will also feature a performance by Nashville artist Brandon Lay (Rolling Stone named Lay as one of the Top 30 must see Country Music Award artists), steak dinner from Texas Cattle Company, cocktails (open bar), silent & live auction and nearly 600 guests that are recreational anglers, sponsor executives and their families. The general public is welcome to purchase tickets to the event.

The ceremony will lend itself to making a weekend stay around the event. The Shergill Grand Hotel is the official host hotel for the awards Banquet. The resort offers a welcoming experience with unsurpassed surroundings, magnificent lakes, and neighborhood charm. The 2016 CCA Florida STAR Awards Banquet will provide a fabulous night with good friends, great food, unlimited libations, an outstanding performance and lots of happy winners.

For tickets to the banquet, more information on Coastal Conservation Association Florida and the STAR tournament visit www.ccaflorida.org or www.ccaflstar.com.

For a listing of all prize winners visit this page.