MIKE ALSTOTT FAMILYFISHING TOURNAMENT Presented by Thunder Marine
Captains Party: Thursday July 31st Fishing & Weigh In: Saturday August 2nd
Inshore / Offshore Rodeo Fishing Tournament: First of its kind in Tampa Bay!! This unique and rare multiple specie points style event was created to give an equal playing field to all participants. Points are awarded per specie and per pound or inches of fish. Only two of the same specie can be weighed and a total aggregate of six fish will determine the winning teams.
CAPTAINS MEETING: (Mandatory for Anglers) DATE: Thursday, July 31st, 7:00 pm, 2008 (Captain’s Bags for Registered Boats) WHERE: Thunder Marine, 8701 Bay Pines Blvd. St Petersburg , FL 33709 Open to the Public - Come for the Festivities • Kids Casting Contest • Raffle • Great Food, Drinks and Music • Review of Tournament Rules and Regulations ENTRY FEE: $175 per boat **Pre-Register online NOW (www.ThunderMarine.com) for a chance to win a special prize!! RULES AND REGULATIONS/SPECIES: PDF attached or go to www.ThunderMarine.com FISHING: Saturday, August 2nd - Fishing Begins at 12:00 am WEIGH IN: Saturday, August 2nd, 4:00pm to 5:00pm DIVISIONS: (Inshore & Offshore): Over All - Youth - Ladies - Family PRIZES AND PAYOUTS (Inshore - Offshore): Over All: 1st Place Inshore - $2,500 / 1st Place Offshore - $2,500 2nd Place Inshore - $1,500 / 2nd Place Offshore - $1,500 3rd Place Inshore - $1,000 / 1st Place Offshore - $1,000 Youth, Ladies and Family Divisions: prizes and trophies FISHING: Saturday, August 2nd - Fishing begins 12:00am WEIGH IN: Saturday, August 2nd / 1pm - 5pm (see rules and regs. for details) For More Information: Mike Alstott Family Foundation: 727-369-8525 www.MikeAlstottFamilyFoundation.org Thunder Marine: 727-381-4444 info@thundermarine.com / www.thundermarine.com <http://www.thundermarine.com>
All Proceeds to benefit the Mike Alstott Family Foundation. Your support is greatly appreciated!
This Common Snook with barnacles growing above both gill plates was caught by Capt Brook Wallace and photographed by Pete Mersch.
The snook was 33 inches long and lives under a dock in Bradenton. This rare double sided 'barnacled snook' was live released with barnacles intact and could possibly be caught again.
Snook Research Biologist Ron Taylor said, over the course of a lifetime working with snook, he has seen just a handful of snook with barnacles. Nate Brennan, senior snook scientist at Mote Marine, who has personally handled more 40,000 snook, primarily in Sarasota county, said he had not seen any. The angler's father, Don Wallace, had caught a 35 inch snook recently with barnacles on one side only. The second catch was within a half mile of the first one, daytime flats fishing. The cluster was knocked off with a pair of needle nose pliers and the fish was live released.
One might speculate whether this anomaly is related to the individual snook's diet, health, water quality, other environmental factors, or the fish having been handled in a particular way. Parasites and fouling organisms are not commonly found on snook, whose protective slime coat not only increases their underwater speed but also helps prevent such organisms from taking hold.
Captain Brook said "The barnacle clusters I've seen only grow above the razor sharp gill plate area. They're about the size of a silver dollar in circumference, and look like Mickey Mouse ears."
We thank Captain Brook Wallace of Full Boat Charters in Bradenton for bringing this snook to light.
If you see a barnacled snook or other unusual catch, please send in a report to: info@snookfoundation.org
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