Tots
and teens get their chance to fish for fun and prizes this Fourth of July
holiday when the Virgin Islands Gamefishing Club (VIGFC) and Offshore Marine
host the 42nd annual July Open Kids Tournament.
“The
real fun of this event is watching the kids fish. It may be their first time
fishing or they may be regulars who look forward to this event each year.
Either way, there’s nothing like the look on a kid’s face when they catch
something,” says tournament director, Harald Tapp.
Kids
can fish in one of three age groups: 3- to 6-year-olds, 7- to 12-year-olds, and
13- to 15-year-olds.
Kids,
and parents, do have to supply their own bait and tackle, but the first 200
junior entrants receive free T-shirts, lunch, drink and prizes. Kid’s free
lunch includes hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon, juice and ice cream.
Prize
categories include most fish, biggest fish, ugliest fish, cutest fish and
funniest fish.
Fishing
starts anytime July Fourth morning, but all fish must be brought for weigh in
starting at 11 a.m.
Additional
festivities include an inflatable fun house where kids can bounce to their
heart’s content, face painting by colorful clowns, and cool spray compliments
of the V.I. Fire Department who will bring their big red trucks and hoses.
Free
registration will be held at the VIGFC, located above the Frigate East
restaurant in Red Hook, and at Offshore Marine, located next to WAPA in
Subbase, on Saturday July 2 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. There will also be
registration on Sunday July 3 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Red Hook Video in the
American Yacht Harbor Building and Video Mon in the Time Center Building in
Tutu.
