According to Tournament Director, Perry Police
Department Sgt. Lin Gray, the 1st Annual Special Olympics/Law Enforcement
Torch Run In-Shore Fishing Tournament held April 24th out of Coastal Taylor
County was a tremendous success. The early morning weather did not
exactly cooperate, however, there were still approximately 100 anglers that
signed up for the tournament and “weathered the storm” to fish in the
tournament. As the day progressed, the clouds lifted, but the wind did
not. Despite the windy conditions, there were several very nice fish
that were weighed in at Keaton Beach Marina.
The tournament weigh-in was concluded at
5:00 with about 150 people present to see who hauled in the “biggest catch
of the day”. Lee Coulliette of Perry, FL took top honors, and a
$500 cash prize, in the Redfish category with his 1st place redfish that
weighed in at 6.81 lbs. Paul Carter of Valdosta, GA took 2nd place,
and a $250 prize, with his redfish that weighed 6.77 lbs. Phil Altice
of Satsuma, FL took the $150 prize for the Redfish with the Most Spots
turning in a very nice redfish that had (9) nine spots. The largest
Speckled Trout of the day, which weighed 4.27 lbs, and was worth $500, was
caught by Clifford Bean of Mayo, FL. The 2nd largest trout, worth
$250, was caught by Lee McDaniel of Thomasville, GA fishing with the Coastal
Angler Fishing Team and it weighed in at 3.74 lbs. And not to be
out-fished by the adults, 8 year old Treyton Kirk of Perry, FL also made the
tournament board and collected his $50 prize with a Shiner that weighed in
at .43 lbs.
Sgt. Gray reminded tournament anglers and
on-lookers that the tournament could not have been a success with the help
of different businesses around town that sponsored the different prize
categories and raffle prizes. Ware Oil/Huddle House sponsored the
Largest Redfish and Young Striping and Sealing sponsored the 2nd Largest
Redfish. Individual employees of Doctor’s Memorial Hospital
sponsored the Largest Trout and Perry Burger King sponsored the 2nd Largest
Trout. Sandy Beach of Big Bend Properties and Amy Cruce of Dayspring
Assisted Living sponsored the Redfish with Most Spots category, and Johnson
and Johnson #21 sponsored the Largest Shiner category. All the
businesses were thanked for their assistance, to include Jerry Cawthon of
Keaton Beach Marina for allowing the tournament to have its weigh-in on his
porch, and Joe Mattingly of Rocky’s for loaning the digital scales.
The tournament was concluded with a raffle of a pair of Costa del Mar
sunglasses graciously donated by Waymond Carroll of Jack’s Boats and
Trailers, and a two night stay at the beach courtesy of Sandy Beach at Big
Bend Properties. Ashley “Warrior” Mock’s ticket was drawn for the
Costa sunglasses, and TCSO Sgt. Buddy Lee won the two night stay.
Again, the tournament was a great success and it is thought that it will the
first of many “annual” Special Olympics/Law Enforcement Torch Run In-Shore
Fishing Tournaments to come.
Individuals helping with the tournament
were Robert Lynn, Greg Lynn, Amy Cruce, Wendell Miles, PPD K-9 Officer Kyle
Johnson, PPD Ofc. Chuck Geyer, TCSO Sgt. Steve Bell, DOC Sgt. Dina Lago, DOC
Ofc. Amanda Hale, EMS Director/Dep. Marty Tompkins, Asst. EMS Director Chad
Bush, DMH Paramedic Micheal Lundy, FWC Ofc. Randy McDonald, FWC
Ofc. Clay Huff, and FWC Ofc. Dale Wilcox
