Bluewater Outriggers sponsors Offshore Charity Classic Fishing Tournament

The Bluewater Outriggers Charity Offshore Classic, held annually the first weekend of June, is fast becoming the place to be for tournament fishermen from all over the southeast.

The species include King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Red Snapper, Grouper, Mahi/Mahi, and Wahoo, paying a first prize of $2,500 per species, $500 for second and $250 for third place.

This tournament takes place in Port St. Joe.  These prizes are quite the enticement for avid anglers with boats of all sizes.

This year's event will also kickoff the Panhandle Kingfish Slam, a three tournament event that includes Marquardts Offshore Classic July 30-31 and the 14th annual MBARA Kingfish Tournament on August 28 both, held 10 miles away in Mexico Beach.  

The grand prize winner of the SLAM will receive $5,000+ in cash and prizes.  The winner will be the fishing team that has the greatest total aggregate weight of King Mackerel at the end of the three tournaments.

 Each fishing team will be allowed to weigh and enter one King Mackerel from each tournament toward their total weight entry.

This year’s Bluewater Outriggers Charity Classic event will be built around a weekend honoring warrior heroes that have recently returned from military conflicts with severe injuries. 

This event, Forgotten Coast Warrior Weekend, will be planned and organized by the tournament committee including Brenda Garth who will be the chairperson.

The idea of honoring returning warriors, who have given the most in our nation’s war against terrorism, started with one mother's vision. The idea was to see communities come together to host combat-wounded military men and women and their families affected by this war.

Linda Cope was inspired by her son, Sgt. Joshua Cope (USA RET), who lost both legs above the knee to an IED in Bagdad, Iraq on November 13, 2006. His tenacity to heal and the love and compassion of his wife, Erica, beside him moved Linda to organize the "Warrior Beach Retreat" in Panama City Fl. 

Linda Cope says, “These retreats allow us all to come together to bring hope and healing to so many heroes and their families. Lest we forget, when a soldier goes to war, a family goes to war."

Linda's vision is shared by local businessman George Duren, owner of Bluewater Outriggers, who is the promoter of the Offshore Clasic. This year the tournament, held on June 4-5 at the Port St Joe Marina, will honor these heroes through the "Forgotten Coast Warrior Weekend."

This fishing tournament and family oriented event allows the good folks of the Forgotten Coast to show off our little slice of paradise while making a difference in the lives of these families.

With the guidance of the Tournament Director, Capt. Mitch Coleman, tournament entries, Sponsors and Volunteers of the Bluewater Outriggers Charity Classic will be the driving force behind the success of this tournament and its mission of sponsoring the Forgotten Coast Warrior Weekend. Brenda Garth, personified by the area community, will lead us in coming together as the host to these warriors and families.

 The weekend events begin Friday, June 4 with the Warrior Kingfish Shootout, featuring five warriors fishing for five hours on five fast tournament boats. A blastoff start from Jetty Park at noon and weigh-in at 5 p.m. ET at the marina will give the community a chance to come out to cheer on these teams. The warrior shootout weigh-in will coincide with the beginning of the captain's party for the charity.

Classic fishing teams and the community is encouraged to join in the fun. While the tournament fishermen are out competing, Saturday, June 5 will be a day to enjoy the fruits of the Forgotten Coast with "Heroes Day," featuring live music, community fish fry, and family activities centered around the Port St Joe marina and the excitement of the weigh-in for the Charity Classic that lasts from 2-6:30 p.m. ET.

Local businesses will have the opportunity to make tax deductible cash or in-kind contributions through Charity Classic sponsorships toward the lodging, food and entertainment of these warriors and their families. 

The community can also participate through purchasing tickets for the community fish fry. It is the tournament committee’s hope that everyone can participate and be a part of this great event, either as a sponsor or in purchasing a ticket to the Saturday fish fry. 

The tournament believes that "we all have something to give and we can all make a difference.....together."

For more information on the Forgotten Coast Warrior Weekend and how to contribute, please call Brenda Garth at 850 899-7721, Capt. Mitch Coleman at 850 896-4930 or George Duren at 850 227-6576.

For more information on the Bluewater Outriggers Charity Offshore Classic, visit www.bluewatercharityclassic.com.