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24 fish win back bay tournament

The team of Melissa Joiner-Steyer, Nicole Coleman and Capt. Brian Ball took top honors at the first Whidden’s BackBay Tournament held on Friday, Nov. 13.

The tournament was held in honor of Midge Calahan, an islander who loved fishing, art and the environment of Boca Grande.

Joiner-Steyer caught 10 fish, Coleman caught 12 and Ball caught two for a total of 24 fish brought to the boat.

Capt. Sandy Melvin, Bob Melvin and Ron Walker took a prize for catching the first fish, a redfish, less than 45 minutes after the competition began.

Capt. Johnny Bylaska, Sam Steyer and John Gore took their lead and came in second after they brought in the heaviest combination of a snook and a redfish.

Nicole Coleman took the first place angler award for most fish caught, Carol Napoli took the second place angler spot and Joiner-Steyer received an award for the largest redfish caught.

A poignant moment started the tournament. All eight boats paused while anglers Bonnie McGee and Napoli scattered some of Midge’s ashes into the water.

“Midge loved competitive fishing and Whiddens,” said Dave Arner, president of the Gasparilla Maritime Museum and coordinator of the event. “Some of her ashes were scattered by Bonnie McGee and Carol Napoli at Whidden’s dock before the boats left that morning. We had great weather, good fishing, the wind died down and we had cool temperatures. We’ll definitely be doing it again next year, sometime before Thanksgiving. I’m not sure how many fish were caught in total, but wow … it was a lot.”

Arner said they had not yet determined how much money was raised for the museum.

“We made money not only from the entrants, but from some people who couldn’t fish but donated as well,” he said. “It was a great event and everyone had fun, as it was a kind of low-key tournament that was reasonably priced. Next year I’m sure we’ll have even more anglers.”

McGee, who was wearing Midge’s fishing shirt for the tournament, said she spread Midge’s ashes at every fishing hole they went to during the tournament, as well as at the dock.

“Midge would have really enjoyed this trip,” she said. “Carol and I miss her an awful lot.”