Ocean Mist to Host PBR Fishing Tourney Award Ceremony, Celebration

From June 1 through Sept. 15, more than 400 fishermen (and women) from the Rhode Island, Connecticut and Long Island, NY regions cast their lines in hopes of conquering the 2013 Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) Northeast Striped Bass and Fluke Tournament.

The second annual event offered the most guaranteed cash winnings of any Northeast tournament, and boasted many weekly and monthly winners between its 29 weigh stations. Portions of every $20 and $40 tournament registration fee will go to help the Arthritis Foundation improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases.

This year, PBR added a Fluke division to the tourney with impressive cash prizes ($5K, $3K and $2K for first, second and third place, respectively), as well as weekly and monthly leader prizes. This complements the Striped Bass “Boat” and “Shore” divisions that were established in 2012 (Bass by Boat: $10K, $5K, $3K; Bass by Shore: $5K, $3K, $2K for first, second and third place). In addition, prize packages will be awarded to Junior winners in each division and all registered participants have been automatically entered into a raffle for a 2014 winter fishing trip for two in Florida.

In the spirit of conservation, the Tournament also established the “Evan Metropoulos Conservation Award” - a $5,000 prize awarded, via raffle, to an angler registered in the Tournament that successfully catches, documents, and releases a bass 35 inches or longer.

To recognize the this year’s winners, PBR has planned a party hosted at the Ocean Mist in Matunuck from 1-5 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 21. In addition to the prize and award ceremony, attendees will enjoy live music, contests and refreshments. 

Among the 11 tournament winners within the five prize categories were three fishermen hailing from RI:

• Robert Ferraro of Narragansett: Bass by Boat, 2nd Place - 60 lbs, 11 oz., 53.5"

• Thomas McGuire of Narragansett: Bass by Shore, 3rd place - 34 lbs. 7 oz., 46"

• Andrew McGarry of Block Island: "Junior" Bass by Boat - 38 lbs. 4 oz., 47.25"