The Caloosa Catch and Release

Now in its nineteenth year, The Caloosa Catch and Release is the largest single-site public inshore fishing tournament in Florida and one of the largest and prestigious tournaments in the country, having dozens of states represented this past year. This three day event is held at the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Spa on Fort Myers Beach, Florida consisting of over 100 hundred teams with approximately three anglers per team. In addition, many other people participate in a variety of functions offered at this family event. Anglers compete for snook, redfish, trout, and a daily mystery fish-all on a catch and release basis.

More than 45 organizations in Southwest Florida have benefited from over $400,000 dollars that has been distributed as a result of this event including this partial list: The Rotary Club of Fort Myers South, The Imaginarium, Florida Sea Grant Program-Project Redstart, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boy Scouts of Southwest Florida, The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), Outreach, The Children’s Home Society, and Edison Community College. The primary recipient of funding from this event over the past eight years has been Florida Gulf Coast University where donations helped build the math and science building-Whitaker Hall, where The Caloosa Catch & Release name is listed in the atrium in the lobby and the marine and aquarium wing bears The Caloosa name. In addition, the tournament has provided athletic scholarships over the past seven years and is committed to that objective into the foreseeable future.

The Back Country Classic

The largest single-site tournament held in Naples, Florida. Fishing for redfish, snook, and trout, this two-day tournament has over 100 anglers and has provided funds to the Collier County Building Association High School Scholarship.

The Summer Slam Flats Tournament

Now in the tenth year, this two-day tournament consists of seventy-five teams and is held at the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Spa on Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Anglers compete for snook, redfish, and snapper. Net proceeds from this event are distributed to the Florida Gulf Coast University athletic scholarship program.

The Caloosa Grand Championship

The Caloosa Grand Championship is the final event in The Caloosa Tournament Series bringing qualifiers of all tournaments together from all over the country to compete for nearly $50,000 in cash and prize money and the opportunity to bear the coveted title-Caloosa Grand Champion. The champion team wins a Hewes 16’ Tailfisher powered by a Yamaha 60hp 4- stroke motor with a Boatmaster trailer.

Other Fishing Tournaments

Kayak Fishing Classic presented by Aegis Factors benefited the Southwest Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America. Anglers compete for snapper, snook, redfish, and trout. This two-day event consisted of one fishing day and two dinners at Margarita Grille and Lovers Key State Park. Mangrove Madness is a fundraiser tournament benefiting Hodges University. This IGFA/Rolex Inshore Qualifying Championship Tournament event included one day of fishingand two dinners, lunch, and open bar. Tournament species included snook, redfish, trout, and snapper.

Other Events and Programs

The organization also performs advisory services for The Lee Island Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau. In addition to the above events, the corporate officers of CC & R have also founded, or helped organize and/or managed the following events and programs.

• The Rotary South Four Way Test Awards-20 years
• The Celebrity Connexxion
• The Rotary South Scholar/Athlete Award Program-20 years
• The Thirty Sixth Annual Bank of America City of Palms Classic (the nation's number 1 rated high school tournament in America)
• The Softball Business Challenge- 7 years