Benefit rodeo is great reason to fish

Courtesy Dennis J. Menard

Dennis J. Menard with a red snapper he caught during the 2011 Fishing for Memories Rodeo. His family’s boat, Nauti-or-Knot, won Best Offshore Boat.

The Abbeville Harbor and Terminal Public Boat Launch in Intracoastal City will once again be the site of the Fishing for Memories Rodeo benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association. Organizers have a goal of 500 fishermen this year and hope Louisiana anglers will help make that happen. The event will be held June 21-24 and all ages are welcome.

Adult participants will compete in 12 inshore and offshore categories, with the top three in each category winning cash prizes. First place youth division winners will receive a Lifetime Louisiana Fishing License.

“If the youth elect to, they can buy an adult ticket and compete for cash prizes,” said Holly Boffy, one of the rodeo’s organizers. “Some of our boys who have gotten a lifetime fishing license in the past prefer to fish for money.”

Plaques and bragging rights will be awarded to the Best Offshore Boat and Best Inshore Boat of the competition.

An adult ticket is $30 and the youth ticket, 13 and under, is only $10.
 
A list of ticket locations can be found at www.FishingForMemories.org. Interested parties can also call Maxie Pierce Grocery (337-893-5312) to reserve a ticket by phone.

There will be live music Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with family-oriented activities all day Saturday, including fun jumps, slides and face painting for the kids. Food and drinks will be sold all weekend.

“It’s a community type of event,” said Boffy, “starting from the time the scales open till the band finishes playing.”

The awards ceremony and an auction will take place on Sunday. Auction items are always unique and most can’t be found in stores.

“All of our proceeds are donated to the Alzheimer’s Association, and the auction is a big piece of where we make our money,” said Boffy.

For more information, visit www.FishingForMemories.org.