24th Annual Big Bend Saltwater Classic

[JCP]

The date for the Big Bend Saltwater Classic has benn changed from June 15th – 17th to July 6th – 8th.

After careful consideration, BBSC’s Board of Directors unanimously voted on January 11, 2012 to change the date of the 24th annual Big Bend Saltwater Classic to July 6th – 8th. This date change will allow our anglers to fish for gag grouper during tournament weekend. The National Marine Fisheries Service has indicated that harvest of gag grouper will be permitted from July 1, 2012 through October 31, 2012 in federal waters. The proposed annual quota is for 2012 is 1,232,000 pounds. Once this quota is reached, harvest of gag grouper will no longer be allowed.

Gag grouper is one of the most popular game fish in the Big Bend and changing our tournament date to allow participants to target this species is certainly something that myself and our board of directors are excited about. I truly hope that anglers who have fished our tournament in the past and continued to support our cause during oil spills and species closures over the past few years will join us this year to make this the biggest and most successful tournament ever.

We are trying to get the word out about the date change for this year's tournament. Please pass this along to anyone you know who plans on fishing this year or anyone who may have fished in years past.

[Jumptrout51]

Father's Day Weekend A tradition bites the dust.

[JCP]

We felt the same way about breaking a 22 year tradtion, but we also thought it was the best decision for the tournament's continued success. We are not sayIng that this is a permanent change and we will talk about movIng the tournament back to Father's Day weekend next year.