2010 RedSnook Catch & Release Tournament Oct. 1-3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA IS INVITED TO ATTEND THE OCTOBER 1 KICK-OFF PARTY AND AUCTION

Media Contact:

Barbara Wilson, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, 239-403-4216 or barbaraw@conservancy.org

Several Angler Spots Still Available

 2010 RedSnook Catch & Release Tournament Oct. 1-3

Help Support a Clean Gulf!

Photo Captions:

Roland with Snook:  Angler Roland Martin out on the water during the 2009 RedSnook Tournament.

Dolphin Cheer:  Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders helped energize the crowd at the 2009 RedSnook Catch and Release Tournament to benefit the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

Jeff_Melinda_Dave:  The 2009 RedSnook Tournament helped fund a water quality study and its impact on juvenile snook conducted by Conservancy biologists Dr. Jeff Schmid, Melinda Schuman and David Shindle.

NAPLES, Fla. (August 27, 2010) – Registration is still underway for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida 2010 RedSnook Catch and Release Charity Tournament scheduled for Oct. 1-3. This International Game Fish Association certified tournament is open to teams, individuals, corporate teams, female anglers and junior anglers under age 16.  Several spots still remain.

Roland Martin, legendary angler and television host of the “Fishing with Roland Martin Show,” will again host the three-day tournament. Wayne Meland, senior vice president of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney serves as chairman of the event. Last year the tournament netted more than $70,000 for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

The RedSnook Tournament benefits the water quality and estuary protection initiatives of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.   According to the 2010 Event Chair, Wayne Meland, “Our water quality and the productivity of the Gulf will be impacted for some time to come by the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Unplanned adversities such as these make the daily work of the Conservancy, such as water quality programs and protecting our estuaries, even more important.”

The tournament will begin with a kick-off party, silent auction and live auction with Roland Martin at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Naples Yacht Club.  Anglers, sponsors and guides will be attending.  Competitors will launch from three locations in Naples, Goodland and Chokoloskee, with competition scheduled on Oct. 2 and 3 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tournament concludes with an awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Northern Trust.

Teams can register for the tournament at www.conservancy.org/redsnook.  Divisions include unguided general bait, guided general bait, unguided spin/plug and guided spin/plug and fly.  Registration is limited to the first 60 teams. For more information, call 239-403-4200.

Auction Chair Julie Kukk is very excited about both the silent and live auction items.  According to Ms. Kukk, “We are very thankful for all the support from the community and generous donors who have contributed unique and exciting items and experiences for the auctions.”  People interested in participating in the kick off and auction must pre-register by contacting betsyg@conservancy.org.

The event is sponsored by M&I Bank, Comcast, Florida Weekly, Naples Yacht Club, Northern Trust, Heatherwood Construction, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, the Miami Dolphins, Outback Steakhouse, CRS Technology, Century Link, Whole Foods, and others.

About the Conservancy of Southwest Florida:

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida began in 1964 when community leaders came together to defeat a proposed “Road to Nowhere” and spearheaded the acquisition and protection of Rookery Bay. 
The Conservancy is a grassroots organization focused on the critical environmental issues of the Southwest Florida region. Partnering with like-minded organizations, the Conservancy works to manage growth and protect area waters, land and wildlife. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida promotes sound environmental policies and practices based on solid scientific research while providing environmental education to residents and visitors. The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center treats more than 2,400 injured, sick and orphaned animals each year and releases about half back into their native habitats. 

 The Conservancy of Southwest Florida and Conservancy Nature Center are located in Naples, Florida at 1450 Merrihue Drive, off Goodlette-Frank Road at 14^th Avenue North. 
For information about the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, call 239-262-0304 or www.conservancy.org.

Media Contacts:

Barbara Wilson, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, 239-403-4216 or barbaraw@conservancy.org