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Whidden’s tourney wants more participants

Dave Arner, a member of the Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum board, said they have had eight boats sign up for the Whidden’s Back Bay Tournament so far but more are needed.
The tournament, held in memory of Midge Callahan who passed away in April of this year, will benefit the museum and the precious historical contents held within.

“We run a very lean operation around here,” Arner said. “The museum could be the least inexpensive operation on the island as far as operational charities go, but we want to focus more funds on educational programs for children. We want to teach them not only the fishing traditions of the island through the generations, but how the traditional fishing methods and manners help to preserve our environment. We think it’s the first step in trying to do more hands-on programs like Mote Marine Laboratories with island and off-island children. We have to preserve our fisheries and we need to start with our children.”

Callahan, who was passionate about fishing and the environment, could be found at almost every local fishing tournament and was a firm believer in fighting invasive animals such as iguanas. She fished several tournaments with Carol Napoli and Becky Paterson, usually with very good luck, and the group called themselves “Charlie’s Angels” because of their captain, Charlie Coleman.

The woman who was a long-time exhibiting member of the Boca Grande Art Alliance surprised him one day with a painting of him fishing in the back bay. It currently hangs in the Maritime Museum at Whidden’s Marina.

The museum houses many island treasures, such as old lures, pictures, and even old tarpon-fighting chairs that were once used by Ernest Hemingway and Zane Grey.

Whidden’s Back Bay Tournament will be held on Friday, Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with lunch to follow at Whidden’s Marina made by PJ’s Seagrille.

The cost is $600 per three-angler team, $200 for individuals. What is unique about this tournament is that the fee includes the captain’s fee, charter fee, tip and lunch.

Tournament organizers will pair up each individual with a team if they don’t have one, and the same goes for captains.

Arner said they are hoping for 10 or 15 boats, a number that would exceed their expectations. There is no cut-off to the amount of teams, and anglers will be signed on up until the day of the event. He asked that all anglers who have the intention of participating in the tournament to let him know by Wednesday, Nov. 11 so he can get a head count for lunch.

“We live on an island that is constantly changing,” he said. “There are natural changes, and then there are man-made changes. We want to teach the children the difference between the two, to make them aware of how they can help prevent those man-made changes.”

The event promises fun, prizes and fishing for a good cause. Call 964-0222 to register.