Tournaments fill calendar

Guys can't have all the fun 'cause girls just wanna go fishin', too! Port Aransas is all about fishing, and during the summer anglers can find a tournament just about every weekend.

The fishing competitions cater to adults, kids and women anglers. Tournaments range from longstanding local fundraising tournaments, to fundraisers for off-island causes and boat brand names.

Following is a listing of tournaments on this summer's calendar.

All are subject to change due to weather conditions, so call for confirmation.

Island tournaments

• The 26th annual Coastal Conservation Association's (CCA) Take a Kid Fishing Tournament is set for June 5-6.

Kids through age 16 can fish for fun and prizes in a tournament designed to teach them the skill and pleasure of fishing.

Awards are presented on Woody's Sports Center's back porch, and contestants are reminded to come to the awards presentation whether they caught any fish or not, because everyone wins something in this tournament.

Anglers show off a nice offshore catch of mahi-mahi and warsaw grouper. For more information contact Glenn Martin at Woody's at 749-5252 or Charlie Zahn at 749-6687.

• The 26th annual Woody's Powderpuff Fishing Tournament is on for June 19-20.

The tournament for women only features two divisions. A professional division includes anglers who fish with a guide, and an amateur division is for anglers who "go it alone."

The tournament requires women to do everything except run the boats, net fish and serve drinks. Anglers will be fishing for redfish, gafftop, sheepshead, hardhead, speckled trout, flounder and black drum.

Call Woody's Sports Center at 749-5252 for more details, or go online to www.gulfcoastfishing.com

• The Port Aransas Masters' Tournament-Fred Rhodes Memorial Tournament will be held June 25-28.

Call Pete Fox at 749-4870 for details, or go online to www. foxyachtsales.com.

• The 74th Deep Sea Roundup will be July 9-12. The oldest tournament on the Texas Gulf coast includes offshore and bay-surf divisions for both adult and junior anglers as well as a bay fly-fishing division will be featured. As always, a Piggy Perch Contest entertains the younger set.

A nice catch from the 2008 Deep Sea Roundup. Call the Port Aransas Boatmen, Inc., which sponsors the tournament, at 749-6339 for details, or go online to www. paboatmen.org.

• The 34th Outboard Fishing Tournament is slated for July 17-19. The Ladies Fire Auxiliary sponsors the tournament to benefit the Port Aransas Volunteer Fire Department. It is for boats powered exclusively by outboard motors.

First and second place trophies will be awarded for the two largest fish in each category. Also, trophies will be awarded for hard luck, good sportsmanship and most unusual fish.

Call Kim Hill at 749-6211 for more information.

• The Hope Devlin Kids' Fishing Tournament is set for July 3-4. Proceeds from the tournament sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Port Aransas will go to provide scholarships for Port Aransas High School graduates.

Winners will receive bicycles that will be presented in three age categories for the largest fish by weight. Age categories are 0-5 years, 6 to 10 years, and 11 to 16 years. Awards for participation also are presented.

For more information, call Elvia Tamayo at 749-4096 or (361) 816-5282.

• The Texas Women Angler's Tournament is on the calendar for Aug. 28-30, with weigh-in at Virginia's on the Bay. This is a tag and release tournament, and each catch must be documented according to tournament rules. The tournament also offers tuna, wahoo and dolphin divisions. To register or find out additional information, contact Sharon Miller at (361) 882-6000 or check out the tournament's Web site at www.gofishtx.com.

Off-island causes

• The Kasting For Kids Tournament will be held June 12-13. Call Eddie Gammill at (210) 764- 0800 for more information.

• The 13th annual Fishing Break tournament benefiting The Austin Firefighters Relief and Outreach Fund will be held June 26-27. Contact Todd Purcell, (512) 750-0700 or go online to www.annualfisingbreak.com

Bay anglers hope to weigh in nice redfish like this one. • The Hooked on Youth Tournament, sponsored by OINK, Inc., raises funds to purchase livestock from youth entered in the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo. It is scheduled for July 31-Aug. 1. Call Matt Burkholder at (210) 414-7967 for more information.

Boat-brand tourneys

• The Blue Wave owners tournament, July 24-25. For more information, call Shawn Pipkins at (918) 473-6768 or go online to www.bluewaveboats.com.