Chix-N-Stix casts new lines on Beach
A new fishing event featuring lady anglers catching lady fish is coming to the south end of Fort Myers Beach this weekend.
The inaugural Chix-N-Stix Ladies Fishing Tournament will take place at Fish-Tale Marina Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5. This is regarded as the first event of its caliber for ladies in the fishing industry, according to co-organizer Kristi Riley.
“We wanted to draw a number and show the effects that ladies have on the fishing market,” said Riley, who is the organizer of the event along with Capt. Lacey Rush. “There are other ladies tournaments but we definitely have a different niche. It’s the largest and one of the only ladies tournaments in the area.”
The ‘different niche’ includes a charity benefit (an auction for Operation Open Arms which supports the American troops); an on-site filming (Whitney March with the School of Saltwater Fishing show which airs on the Sportsman’s Channel and Direct TV); help from college fraternity members (Florida Gulf Coast University is providing fraternity boys to assist the ladies and men in cleaning boats, serving drinks and taking pictures) and neck and back rubdowns (a masseuse will be on hand to give five-minute massages).
Cash and prize pay out is expected to be over $5,000. Besides teams vying for the heaviest bucket load of ladyfish (10 per team with a minimum of 12 inches per fish), there will also be special awards for a youth division, mystery fish categories, creative team name and the farthest traveling team. Anglers may fish by boat (motorized or non-motorized) or by land.
But, why ladyfish?
“We wanted to keep it really fun and light-hearted,” said Riley. “There are so many serious fishing tournaments involving snook and redfish. We wanted to make sure that it was a tournament that featured women who only go out fishing on weekend with their husbands or don’t get a chance to fish very often. Now, they get a chance because they are not fishing against the top captains of the area.”
Kristi has gained valuable experience working along her father, Ron Riley, who has run The Caloosa Tournament Series for more than 20 years.
“I’ve done a lot of work with the Caloosa Tournament Series, the Grouper Grab and the Silverking Classic,” she said. “Over the years, many women have approached me to do a ladies tournament. Capt. Lacey and I came up with the idea three months ago, and we decided to make it happen in 2009.”
Evening functions will be held in the marina’s boat barn. Tournament check-in will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday. Ladies will receive custom Chix-N-Stix tote bags stuffed with items geared toward the lady angler. The captains’ meeting, where rules will be read and ladyfish fishing spots will be provided, follows at 7 p.m. while food and an open bar will be provided by Bahama Breeze Island Grille, Chix-N-Stix’s presenting sponsor.
On Saturday morning, the fishing action begins at 7 a.m. All teams must be back to Fish-Tale Marina by 3 p.m. with their bucket load of fish to be weighed. Vendors, spectators, media and anglers will gather at the weigh station by the marina’s Ship Store, which is open from 2 to 5 p.m. The final weights will be determined by the official CNS Weigh Masters.
The awards dinner, again by Bahama Breeze, will begin at 7 p.m. Soldiers on leave will join the anglers for the festivities and a presentation to Operation Open Arms. Winners will be determined, while cash, prizes and trophies will be provided to the top five teams.
Other sponsors for the event include Fish-Tale Marina; Red Salon & Spa; Misha’s cupcakes; Max Marine Insurance; Beasley Broadcasting and B103.9; Diversified Yacht Services; Hooters; Florida Weekly; Nautical Mile; Fort Myers Daily; Fort Myers Marine; Boatmaster; JM Todd; USA Custom Rods; Irresistible Confections; Caloosa Tournament Series; Screenprint Plus; Shoeless Joe’s; Crowne Plaza; Rush Charters LLC; Custom Packaging and Products; Press Printing; Anisa Jewelry; Navionics; Yo-Zuri; and Deans Dive Center.
“We’re just very excited to bring such a large event down to the Beach,” said Riley. “We’re expected to bring 350 people or so down there.”
For more information and sponsorship information, visit www.chixnstix.net or call Kristi Riley at 239-850-1707 or Lacey Rush at 239-980-1436.