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For the kids… Annual Beach Pub mullet toss to raise funds for after-school program

3 min read
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Continuing a longstanding tradition at Casey’s Alley, Beach Pub owners Lou Caleca (above, left) and Tim Miller (above, center) will hold the annual mullet toss Sunday, May 17, beginning at noon, to benefit Rev. Nadine (above, right) and her after-school program at Beach Elementary. Also pictured, Beach kids Daniela Santiago, Trevor Zanniak, Riley Catlett, Ariana Welch, Jessica Santiago, Alex Reyes, Ulises Santiago and Ashley Walters are eager to toss some fish! Photo by VANDY MAJOR

Carrying a long-standing tradition from a formerly seasoned FMB watering hole, the annual mullet toss has swum down the gulf a little ways, originally at Casey’s Alley, and now at the Beach Pub (1668 I St.), taking place Sunday, May 17, starting at noon, with pub owners Lou Caleca and Tim Miller at the helm.

Raising funds for Rev. Nadine and her after-school program at Beach Elementary, Lou said the mullet toss was originally scored according to distance. But now, it’s all about the accuracy.

“You have to get as many as you can in the basket consecutively,” he said. “With distance, it was too far to walk, to then bring them back over and over.”

(Those mullet were really flying!)

Split up into three categories (men, women and children), mullet-tossers will chuck appropriately-sized fish into specified fish baskets.

“There will be three different sizes of mullet,” Lou said. “Smaller ones for the kids to throw, mediums for the ladies and the larger ones for the guys and I don’t let the guys throw the small fish. If they pick up a small fish, I’m giving them the largest I can find.”

These fish can get pretty large, too. Guys, be prepared to whale as big as 20-inchers into the air!

“We’ve done three fund-raisers every year for years: One was the kids’ V.I.P. mullet toss, one was for Bay Oaks Rec Center, and the other was the toys for Christmas. It’s always about the kids anything for the kids,” Lou said.

During all of this mullet mania, Lou said there will be plenty of live music from Steve “the Lucky Dog” Lutke, Greg Watts, Blue Gumbo and possibly some other surprise guests that’ll pop in throughout the day.

There will also be 50/50s, raffles, prizes, giveaways, plenty of food and a “whole lot of fun.”

There’s no need to sign up early. Just show up the day of the event and be ready to toss that mullet for a cause!

Donating to the cause

“In advance, I’d like to thank everybody who has donated and who will donate to this worthy cause. It’s important we keep these kids off the street. Rev. Nadine’s program is very worthwhile. We need to keep it going,” Lou concluded.

If interested in making a donation to the fund, whether monetary or a gift for the raffles, and for whatever reason can’t bring it by the Beach Pub, call Lou and he’ll be more than happy pick them up.

For more information on the upcoming mullet toss or to make a donation, call Lou at the Beach Pub, 765-6102.

The after-school program

Rev. Nadine said she has been running the Beach Elementary after-school program for about six years, with it actually established about eight years ago.

“There was really a need for the children to have an after-school program,” she said. “At the time (eight years ago), the minister was riding along with the sheriff, seeing the kids hanging out on the beach and in the bars, and they decided there was a need for after-school activity.”

Rev. Nadine said she also takes about six to eight local kids up to a church camp retreat in Michigan every year, and they just love it.

“They have a wonderful time, a wonderful experience. They really enjoy it,” she said.

Lou said any funds raised from the mullet toss benefit will go toward whatever children’s activities Rev. Nadine may need them for the after-school program, the kids’ church retreat, etc.