| Orlando,
FL – October 2016 / Newsmaker Alert / Some
$500,000 in prizes, 5,149 anglers, 15,815 catch entries and 157 tagged
redfish released throughout the coastal waters of Florida made Coastal
Conservation Association Florida STAR presented by Yamaha the largest
and most exciting family friendly fishing competition in the state for
the summer of 2016. The numbers speak for themselves, recreational anglers
and sponsors loved STAR (Statewide Tournament and Anglers Rodeo).
STAR
Florida, a Catch & Photo tournament, is designed to educate the
general public about the importance of conservation of Florida’s marine
resources and to engage more families and youth in the sport of fishing.
Many of the STAR anglers and their families shared that their 2016 summer
plans revolved around fishing and making entries in STAR. CCA’s state-of-the-art
smart phone app eliminated the need for anglers to bring their entry to
a weigh-in. To enter their catch, anglers simply entered a photo of their
fish on the 2016 official measuring device via the app or website. It was
not be the biggest fish that won. All division winners were determined
by a drawing from the verified entries in each division except for tagged
redfish, guides, conservation and the Lionfish division. STAR provided
anglers of every skill level the opportunity to win.
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STAR
ended Labor Day, September 5 without a tagged redfish winner. During the
101 days of the competition, 20 of the 157 tagged redfish released in STAR
were recaptured by anglers that were not properly registered for the tournament
or did not know the rules. In order to create more excitement and because
there was no STAR tagged redfish winner, STAR chose to offer a special
winner’s Choice drawing; any registered adult angler who submitted an eligible
species (spotted seatrout, sheepshead, snook, cobia, kingfish, dolphin
or lionfish), in any division excluding the conservation and guide divisions
would be placed into a winner’s CHOICE drawing for one of the remaining
STAR Tagged Redfish prizes. The randomly chosen winner would have their
choice of the GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab pickup truck donated by Conley Buick
GMC of Bradenton or one of the donated boat, motor & trailer packages
either the Contender 22 Sport, Pathfinder 2200 TRS, Hells Bay Waterman
or the Sea Hunt 235 Escape all powered by Yamaha. The tackle shops, docks,
boat ramps, marinas and social media all were a buzz regarding the amazing
prizes in the tagged redfish division, the 13 other division prizes and
the special Winner’s Choice drawing.
The
climax for CCA Florida STAR, will be the Awards
Banquet and Ceremony presented by The City of Haines City which will
take place on October 15, 2016 from 5pm to 10pm at the Lake Eva Event Center
in Haines City. It will be a spectacular night with CCA staff, sponsors
and fishing celebrities awarding as many as 72 anglers nearly $275,000
in prizes with $100,000 of this being awarded to 12 youth anglers who had
their catch entries drawn as winners in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Youth
Scholarship Division presented by Bright House Networks.
In
addition to the awards ceremony the STAR banquet will also feature a performance
by Nashville artist Brandon Lay (Rolling Stone named Lay as one of the
Top 30 must see Country Music Award artists), steak dinner from Texas Cattle
Company, cocktails (open bar), silent & live auction and nearly 600
guests that are recreational anglers, sponsor executives and their families.
The general public is welcome to purchase tickets to the event.
The
ceremony will lend itself to making a weekend stay around the event. The
Shergill Grand Hotel is the official host hotel for the awards Banquet.
The resort offers a welcoming experience with unsurpassed surroundings,
magnificent lakes, and neighborhood charm. The 2016 CCA Florida STAR Awards
Banquet will provide a fabulous night with good friends, great food, unlimited
libations, an outstanding performance and lots of happy winners.
For
tickets to the banquet, more information on Coastal Conservation Association
Florida and the STAR tournament visit www.ccaflorida.org
or www.ccaflstar.com.
For
a listing of all prize winners visit
this page.
Contact:
Leiza
Fitzgerald
STAR
Tournament Director
Coastal
Conservation Association Florida
352-665-4868 |
