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Caloosa tourney has great formula for family fun
As the 20th running of the Caloosa Catch and Release approaches, I thought it fair to ask why it has endured as Southwest Florida's longest running fishing tournament. Other tournaments that have paid out way more money, with even lower entry fees, have come and gone while the Caloosa has chugged right through two decades of up-and-down economies.
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So I asked tournament director Ron Riley his secret.
"I think the concept of it being a family event is what has made it such a long-running event. When we switched from a celebrity event a long time ago, the focus shifted from celebrities, which got us publicity and sponsors, to a fishing event that was centered on fun, fishing, families and fundraising — the four F's," Riley said.
Once the playground of famous folk, including Lee Majors, Curt Gowdy and a ton of New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Caloosa has grown into something more like a living family tree.
"We're seeing this generational thing that is really cool," Riley said. "We've got grandfathers who started fishing with us, and now their sons and grandsons are fishing."
Not that they're fishing exactly the same tournament.
"Part of it is recognizing what ain't broke, you don't fix. But we listen to the anglers, to make it more angler-friendly," Riley said.
In the Caloosa, there are two divisions — amateur and guided — and this year each is competing for equal prize money ($4,000 for first place). So weekend anglers with the wherewithal to enter ($275 per angler before May 1, now $325) aren't overmatched against professionals.
The Caloosa has always been a catch-and-release tournament — environmentally friendly in every way. But it wasn't long before it incorporated a friendly side bet on who could catch the biggest redfish — a hardy species that could be brought to the scales, to see who really caught the big-money fish — which still could be released.
But the real deal at the Caloosa always has been the atmosphere, starting with a May 13 kickoff party (it was great, according to GulfCoast.MetroMix.com), followed by a check-in bar, an auction party open to the public, and an endless supply of fun, food and Land Shark beer at the Pink Shell Resort on Fort Myers Beach.
It's a formula that has generated more than $250,000 in gifts to FGCU, with at least $5,000 more expected in the down economy.
And it's not too late to get in on the fun. Call Ron Riley personally for reservations, at 671-9347.
Tournament Rules.
Top 10 Leaderboard
| 2011 Catch & Release | |
|---|---|
| Renegade | 27.1 |
| Harry - Dicky | 26.4 |
| Yankee Dooley and the Dandees | 25.8 |
| Captiva Rod and Gun Club | 25.7 |
| Get Bit Crew | 25.4 |
| Team Towboat US | 24.0 |
| Lynch Mob | 23.4 |
| Lee Timber Company | 21.9 |
| Suncoast Beverage Sales | 19.9 |
| Royal Shell Vacations | 19.2 |
| Redfish Bonanza | |
| Team Towboat US | 14.8 |
| Renegade | 14.6 |
| Captiva Rod and Gun Club | 14.5 |
