Hamilton Reef
06-01-2006, 04:08 PM
Fishing tournament raises money for area programs
http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1149174925231780.xml&coll=8&thispage=1
Thursday, June 01, 2006 FROM LOCAL REPORTS
More than 145 boats are expected to converge on Grand Haven for three days starting Friday for a sport-fishing tournament designed to raise funds for area organizations.
The Grand Haven Offshore Challenge will be Friday through Sunday.
The event raises money for a number of area programs including: natural resource-related programs, Hospice of North Ottawa and the Baby Chinook Program that has students raise baby salmon in the classrooms for release in the spring.
Funds also go to the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation for the Grand Haven Offshore Challenge Scholarship Fund. This award is presented to a graduating high school senior from the Tri-Cities who wishes to pursue a career in natural resources, such as fisheries, wildlife, and environmental water quality at any public or private college or university.
Other projects benefiting from the tournament will be the Steelheaders Net Pen project and the Gillette Nature Center at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park. All tournament-caught fish will be donated to Teen Challenge.
Prizes are:
$10,000 for first place, professional.
$5,000 for first place, amateur, plus prizes for second through fifth place professional and second through 15th place amateur.
$2,000 for Captain George Hays Memorial Trophy -- the largest fish of the tournament.
$1,000 for first place in the ladies' division and also for the kids' division.
$250 for largest lake trout, largest steelhead, and largest Chinook.
$1,000 if a state record Chinook is caught by a contestant during the Offshore Challenge tournament.
Friday's events include the Second Annual Ladies & Kids Pro/Am Tournament. This tournament is designed to encourage women and children to enjoy sport fishing. Top prize for this tournament is $1,000 for each division. Fun prizes will be awarded for the best "Fish Tale," with "small" and "big" fish winners. The women and children weigh-in will be 11:30 a.m. Friday.
On Saturday and Sunday, the tournament weigh-in will be at 1 p.m.
The Grand Haven Offshore Challenge was started in 1996 by four local fishermen who wanted to promote the local fishery and economy during the weekend after Memorial Day. The first year they hosted approximately 60 boats, which has grown to 145 boats this year.
In 2001, the tournament was recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a charitable organization.
Registration fees are $525 for the professional division and $275 for the amateur division. Registration forms are available at the
www.grandhavenoffshorechallenge.com.
http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1149174925231780.xml&coll=8&thispage=1
Thursday, June 01, 2006 FROM LOCAL REPORTS
More than 145 boats are expected to converge on Grand Haven for three days starting Friday for a sport-fishing tournament designed to raise funds for area organizations.
The Grand Haven Offshore Challenge will be Friday through Sunday.
The event raises money for a number of area programs including: natural resource-related programs, Hospice of North Ottawa and the Baby Chinook Program that has students raise baby salmon in the classrooms for release in the spring.
Funds also go to the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation for the Grand Haven Offshore Challenge Scholarship Fund. This award is presented to a graduating high school senior from the Tri-Cities who wishes to pursue a career in natural resources, such as fisheries, wildlife, and environmental water quality at any public or private college or university.
Other projects benefiting from the tournament will be the Steelheaders Net Pen project and the Gillette Nature Center at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park. All tournament-caught fish will be donated to Teen Challenge.
Prizes are:
$10,000 for first place, professional.
$5,000 for first place, amateur, plus prizes for second through fifth place professional and second through 15th place amateur.
$2,000 for Captain George Hays Memorial Trophy -- the largest fish of the tournament.
$1,000 for first place in the ladies' division and also for the kids' division.
$250 for largest lake trout, largest steelhead, and largest Chinook.
$1,000 if a state record Chinook is caught by a contestant during the Offshore Challenge tournament.
Friday's events include the Second Annual Ladies & Kids Pro/Am Tournament. This tournament is designed to encourage women and children to enjoy sport fishing. Top prize for this tournament is $1,000 for each division. Fun prizes will be awarded for the best "Fish Tale," with "small" and "big" fish winners. The women and children weigh-in will be 11:30 a.m. Friday.
On Saturday and Sunday, the tournament weigh-in will be at 1 p.m.
The Grand Haven Offshore Challenge was started in 1996 by four local fishermen who wanted to promote the local fishery and economy during the weekend after Memorial Day. The first year they hosted approximately 60 boats, which has grown to 145 boats this year.
In 2001, the tournament was recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a charitable organization.
Registration fees are $525 for the professional division and $275 for the amateur division. Registration forms are available at the
www.grandhavenoffshorechallenge.com.