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Junior Woman's Club Hooks Up With Catfish

Tribune photo by JOHN CEBALLOS

Wyatt Buzbee holds up the catfish that helped him capture the first place in the Junior division during the seventh annual Ruskin Family Catfish Tournament June 7 at E.G. Simmons Park. The event was organized by the Ruskin Junior Woman's Club.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 14, 2008

RUSKIN - Catfish was the catch of the day during a recent family fishing tournament in South Shore.

On June 7, more than 40 fishermen and fisherwomen of all ages participated in the seventh annual Ruskin Family Catfish Tournament at E.G. Simmons Park, 2401 19th Ave. N.W.

The event was sponsored by the Ruskin Junior Woman's Club, a nonprofit organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.

"Normally, we have the tournament a little earlier in the year, around March or April," said Amber Council, treasurer of the club. "We're trying it a little later in the year because it's really something that families can take part in together now that school's out."

As a result, families fished in Tampa Bay from daylight until a little before noon, when the weigh-in took place.

"It's hot out, but we all had fun today," said Natalie Corr, secretary of the club. She attended the event with her husband, Dillon, and her two kids, Madison and Dax.

The competitors were split into three categories - ages 9 and younger competed in the Little Tykes division, ages 10 to 17 participated in the Junior division, and 18 and older battled in the Adult division.

The Buzbee family ended up ruling the day as far as the fishing competition was concerned.

Talon Buzbee won the Little Tykes title and a trophy, Wyatt Buzbee triumphed in the Junior division and won a $50 certificate to South Shore Bait & Tackle, and Scott Buzbee took home first prize in the Adult division and $500.

The two runners-up in Little Tykes received a trophy, and second- and third-place finishers in the Junior division received South Shore Bait & Tackle certificates worth $30 and $25, respectively. Dave Violette and Austin Becker also won $250 and $125 for finishing in second and third, respectively, in the Adult division.

The winners were announced by woman's club member Rebecca Cioci during a lunch that followed the competition at the park's main pavilion.

Entry fees for the tournament were $35 for adults, $10 for juniors, and $5 for the Little Tykes division. Children 5 and younger were allowed to fish for free.

Council said this year's event brought in between $300 and $400 for the club.

"It's not as much money as we've raised in past years, but things are just more difficult in the economy these days," Council said. "Still, if we can put on an event for the entire family and break even, we feel good.

"We had a lot of people tell us they had a great time, and that was our main goal."

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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