3rd Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic Announced

[PerryC]

JACKSONVILLE, FL – FEB. 20, 2006 – JaxKayakFishing.com, Northeast Florida’s online kayak fishing community, has announced plans for the world’s largest kayak fishing tournament to be held in Jacksonville, Florida on May 19-20. The 3rd annual Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic promotes kayak fishing in Jacksonville with a fun conservation-oriented format and raises funds for children’s programs through Daniel Memorial. The premier eco-tourism event also supports the St. Johns Riverkeeper.

Officials expect that more than 200 kayak anglers will target Redfish, Trout, and Flounder in a catch-photo-release format with more than $40,000 in prizes and gifts. Last year’s Classic had a world’s largest attendance of 170 paddlers with more than $30,000 in prizes and gifts. The event raised $7,500 for local children’s charities.

The captain’s meeting is scheduled for May 19 at Jacksonville’s Strike-Zone Fishing Center. Check-in, awards ceremonies, and a banquet are set for May 20 at Sneakers Sports Grille of Jacksonville Beach. The entry fee is $60 until April 1 and $75 after. The fee includes a captain’s bag for the first 170 entrants, rights to fish, entry into the raffle and banquet. Anglers will be launching and fishing at any inshore location within Duval, Nassau, and St. John’s counties.

Trophies, kayaks, fishing gear and gift certificates will be awarded for first place through fourth place finishers in four open divisions and first place through third place in two fly fishing divisions. Divisions include: the redfish-trout-flounder slam, biggest redfish, biggest trout, biggest flounder, biggest red-on-fly and biggest trout-on-fly. There are also awards for top Jr. Angler, top Lady Angler, a Mystery Fish prize, a raffle for the Best Dang Tackle Box, and a general raffle that includes more than $15,000 worth of kayaks, equipment and tackle.

The event is co-sponsored by many of Jacksonville's fine kayak and fishing retailers, including Strike-Zone Fishing, Black Creek Outfitters, All Wet Sports, ****’s Sporting Goods, Black Fly Outfitters, Ft. George Island Surf Shop, Salty Feather, Army Navy Outdoors and Thrifty Outdoors. The world’s leading fishing kayak manufacturers are also sponsors: Malibu Kayaks, Hobie Kayaks, Wilderness Systems Kayaks, Hurricane Kayaks, Perception Kayaks, Ocean Kayaks, Emotion Kayaks, Old Town Canoe&Kayaks, Heritage Kayaks, Advanced Elements, and Cobra Kayaks.

Many other prominent national brands such as Temple Fork Outfitters, Guy Harvey, Patagonia, Berkley, Mirrolure, Costa Del Mar, Tsunami, MegaBait, Sure Catch Jigs, Lowrance and DOA Lures are also major supporters. The Outdoors Show, Florida Fishing Weekly, Fishing Connection, Onshore-Offshore Magazine, Florida Sportsman Magazine, Fly Fishing & Saltwater Magazine, Kayak Fisherman Magazine, Canoe&Kayak Magazine, Paddler Magazine, Southern Tide & Trail Magazine, and Great Atlantic Outfitters are promoting and advertising the event.

Kayak fisherman can register online at www.JaxKayakFishing.com. They can also pick up an entry form at any of the sponsors’ locations. More information, complete rules, and prize details are also available online.

Sponsors for the Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic include:

Strike-Zone Fishing, Malibu Kayaks, Hobie Kayaks, BlackCreek Outfitters, Wilderness Systems Kayaks, Perception Kayaks, Emotion Kayaks, Ocean Kayaks, Old Town Canoes&Kayaks, Advanced Elements, Hurricane Kayaks, Heritage Kayaks, Cobra Kayaks, All Wet Sports, Army Navy Outdoors, Salty Feather, Temple Fork Outfitters, Patagonia, Guy Harvey, Ft. George Island Surf Shop, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Fenwick, Spider, Stren, Great Atlantic Outfitters, Crack of Dawn, Bending Branches, MTI, Surf To Summit, XTOOLS, Outfitter’s Mapping, BullFrog, Thrifty Outdoors, Shimano, Outdoors Show, BillyStix Custom Fishing Rods, DOA Lures, Sneakers Sports Grille, Sure Catch Jigs, Malone Auto Racks, SeAirSports, Gene’s Seafood, Kayak Amelia, Lotus Designs, Creative Feathers Studio, B&M Bait&Tackle, RAM, Florida Kayak Fishing, Scotty, Kayak Fishing Stuff, Lowrance, Tsunami, Mirrolure, Megabait, Coach’s Custom Rods, Capt **** Enterprises, Costa Del Mar, Calcutta, Pelican, Black Fly Outfitter & Fine Art Gallery, Hook1, Daiichi Hooks, Saltwater Flytyers, Talic, ****'s Sporting Goods, CCA, Cannon’s B&T, Carlisle Paddles, Extrasport, Otter Box, GearKeeper, All KayakFishing, KayakSportsWear.Com, Polar Bear Coolers, Daiwa, Leatherman Tools, West Marine, Rob Chapman Art, Key West Paddle Sports, Stowmaster Nets, Arlington Bait&Tackle, Pier 17 Marine, White Shell Fish Camp, WhatADay.Org, Thermacell, River Printing, Signs-N-More, AnglersYakShack.Com, SeaSpecs.

PerryC.

[Ranana_Alef]

fisherman first, kayak fisherman second. I have been fishing since before I can remember. but only kayak fishing for a few years.