First Annual Rocktober Fishing Tournament & Festival To Be Held This Fall INDIAN RIVER INLET—August 1, 2004¬¬– With over $24,000 in prize money, the three-day Rocktober Fishing Tournament and Festival to be held on October 22-24, 2004, promises to bring excitement to the start of the fall Striped Bass fishing season. Indian River Marina, located on the north side of the Inlet five miles south of Dewey Beach, will serve as the Tournament headquarters. The marina has undergone extensive renovations over the past year and will be host to live music, food, and fun throughout the tournament. All proceeds raised through the event will be donated to two local charitable organizations, the Horsey Family Youth Foundation and the Sussex County Land Trust. The Striped Bass, locally known as Rockfish, is one of area anglers’ favorite fish to pursue in the fall and a $6,000 cash prize will be awarded to the angler catching the largest rockfish. Additional cash payouts will be made in the rockfish category as well as in the yellow fin tuna and flounder divisions. The payouts will be based on the number of boats registering for the tournament with a maximum of 175 boats allowed. All registered captains will be able to leave from their home ports or trailer to one of the many boat ramps in Sussex County. All fish must then be weighed in at the official Tournament scale at the Indian River Marina with spectators on shore will add to the fun. While the fishing will begin at daybreak on Friday, October 22, festivities under the tent will kick into high gear that afternoon. A wide assortment of seafood, sandwiches, raw bar, and po’boys will be available, local celebrities will be pouring frothy beverages at the beer truck and entertainment and a running commentary will be provided by an on-site radio station. Saturday’s planned events will include additional vendors, live bands and a crab feast. The Starboard will be at the Marina Sunday morning with their world famous Bloody Mary’s, breakfast and music all day. The tournament portion will end with lines out of the water at 3:00pm Sunday afternoon and the prizes awarded immediately following. The Tournament is receiving strong support from members of the local and regional communities. Big Fish Grill of Rehoboth Beach has generously provided top level Captain Sponsorship with The Cape Gazette and The Beach Paper, WBOC, Comcast Cable, Hartford Insurance Group, the Rusty Rudder and Crabbers Cove, and Starboard all graciously giving time, money and donations to support the tournament and the charities. These two local charities are thrilled to be planning the Rocktober Fishing Tournament and if all goes well, plan to continue this event for years to come. “We feel that the tournament will provide a great outlet for people to support a good cause while enjoying fishing, live music, and all sorts of activities over the weekend,” said Wendy O. Baker, president of the Sussex County Land Trust. “We’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into the planning to make it as successful and fun as possible for the whole community.” For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please call 302-645-5944.