WICC Greatest Bluefish Tournament on Earth contest

bigoutdoors

BLUEFISH CONTEST -- The KIA of Milford 2009 WICC Greatest Bluefish Tournament on Earth contest is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 29-30. Top prize for the heaviest bluefish caught inside Long Island Sound during the event is $25,000.

Second prize is $10,000, third is $3,000 while fourth and fifth places win $1,000 apiece. The next 15 places (sixth through 20th) are worth $200 each. Additionally, the heaviest non-winning fish at each weigh-in station will be awarded $200. The cost to register for the tournament is $37. All registrants will receive a free T-shirt.

In a change from past contests, this year the deadline for signing up for the contest is 5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 28. In past years, the signup deadline was 8 p.m. Bait and tackle shop owners are complaining that many anglers will be unaware of the change and will miss the deadline.

This year a tagged bluefish caught by a registered contest angler will be worth $50,000. A $500 prize will be given for the heaviest total weight of three bluefish. There is also a $500 prize for the best bluefish picture to be posted on the contest's Web site, www.bluefishpics.com.

Bait and tackle shops selling the contest entries include: Bobby J's (weigh station), 354 New Haven Ave., Milford; Captain Morgan's Bait & Tackle (weigh station), 21 Boston Post Road, Madison; Captain's Cove Marina (weigh station); 1 Bostwick Ave., Bridgeport; Dee's Bait & Tackle (weigh station); 93 Clay St., New Haven; Fish Connection, 127 Route 12, Preston; Fish Tales Bait & Tackle (weigh station); 379 Shippan Ave., Stamford: Fisherman's Paradise (weigh station); 195 South Montowese St., Branford; and Fisherman's World (weigh station), Liberty Square, East Norwalk.

Also: Frenchy's Bait Tackle (weigh station), 267 Beach St., West Haven; King Cove Outfitters (weigh station), 926 Stonington Road, Stonington; Pete's Place Bait & Tackle, 124 Jefferson St., Stamford; River's End Bait & Tackle (weigh station), 440 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook; Rudy's Tackle Barn (weigh station), 242 South Water St., Greenwich; Seaview Avenue Fish, 365 Seaview Ave., Bridgeport; Sportman's Den (weigh station), 33 River St., Cos Cob; and Stratford Bait & Tackle (weigh station), 1076 Stratford Ave., Stratford.

A list of those shops is available at www.wicc600.com.

Official enrollment applications and the registration certificates plus a check or money order for the $37 entry fee can be mailed to Bluefish Tournament, 2 Lafayette Square, Bridgeport, CT 06604, payable to WICC Bluefish. Entries must be postmarked no later than Aug. 14.