Beavertail Skiffs Annual Owners Tournament 2024

Dates: Friday October 11, 2024 (Captain’s Meeting) & Saturday, October 12, 2024 (Tournament).

Location: Tarpon Lodge, 13771 Waterfront Drive, Bokeelia, FL 33922 (Reservations: 239-283-3999; www.tarponlodge.com).

Number of Boats: The event is limited to the first 30 boats that register for the tournament.

Fees: $165.00 per tournament angler or guide; $85.00 per non-tournament adult guest and $45.00 for children twelve and under.

Registration: Opens Tuesday, April 2, 2024. All planned attendees must register through EventBrite.

The Beavertail Skiffs Owner’s Tournament is open to all Beavertail Skiffs owners and their guests. Fishing teams are limited to a maximum of four anglers per boat. Family members, including children, that wish to kick back and relax at Tarpon Lodge are welcome.

All attendees, including those not fishing in the tournament, must register in advance through EventBrite for the event. Once the event is closed out, we will not be able to accept additional guests. This will ensure catering has all the necessary information to prepare food for the event and commemorative gear is ordered and available for all attendees.

A boat ramp is available at Safe Harbor Pineland (13921 Waterfront Drive, Bokeelia, FL 33922; phone: 239-283-3593), located right next door to Tarpon Lodge. The ramp and parking fee combined is $20.00/day.

Schedule of Events

Friday, October 11, 2024: Check-in for all guests opens at 6:00 p.m. Although it is not mandatory, at least one representative from each team is encouraged to attend the Captain’s Meeting and social hour beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Tarpon Lodge outdoor bar. During the meeting, we will discuss tournament rules and distribute official BT measuring tapes. In addition, light hors d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available.

Saturday, October 12, 2024: Check-in resumes at 6:00 a.m. and closes at 7:00 a.m. All anglers and guests must be signed in by this time. Fishing begins at 7:00 a.m. and lines out by 3:00 p.m. All teams must check back in by text message (with pictures) or in person no later than 4:30 p.m. Festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a cash bar, raffle, charity silent auction and awards ceremony. A buffet dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. In addition, special guest Elmer Pillon with Rhino Diaries Adventures will speak on behalf of this year’s charity.

Rules

This is a catch, photograph and release tournament. No weigh-in is required. Teams will present digital photos of their fish, along with the official Beavertail Skiffs measuring tape, to score catches. Each team will fish for Snook, Sea Trout and Redfish, using spin or fly gear – with live bait or artificial. Trophies will be awarded to the top four teams for the Slam, which includes the total combined inches caught on hook and line of one Sea Trout, one Snook and one Redfish. In addition, there will be a Calcutta with the species announced during the Captain’s Meeting. A complete list of guidelines and rules will be sent to all team captains prior to the event.

Charity Silent Auction

A silent auction benefiting SOS Children’s Villages Florida will open at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 11th and close at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 12th. A variety of items, including pro-guided fishing trips, artwork, boat services and equipment, and gear will be available for bid. In addition, a raffle for several “fabulous prizes” will be available. All money raised from the silent auction and raffle will be donated directly to SOS Children’s Villages Florida.

About SOS Children’s Villages Florida:

SOS Children’s Villages Florida (SOS) opened in 1993 to care for foster children in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Currently, SOS is home for up to 72 foster children ages 1 to 18. At SOS, special emphasis is placed on keeping biological siblings together.

At one of the most difficult times in their young lives, our Village offers a safe and supportive environment for our community’s foster children in 13 single-family homes with full-time house parents in a residential neighborhood cul-de-sac in Coconut Creek. In addition to safety, security, and stability, we are committed to providing vital support services for our children, to help them deal with their emotions, deficiencies in school, and social skills and behavior. We are also committed to preparing our kids to live independently. The SOS on-site programs include mental health counseling and medical services, a behavioral step system program in each home, entertaining activities, educational tutoring, a mentoring program, independent life skills classes, and Next Steps services for youth who have aged out of foster care and have transitioned to life beyond SOS.

Over the past 30 years, SOS has helped to raise more than 1,200 foster children who have grown into healthy, successful, contributing members of our community. SOS kids are twice as likely to complete high school, and six times as likely to graduate college than foster kids in the general population. For the past fifteen years, 100% of our high school seniors have graduated AND enrolled in college or trade school. Outcomes for which we are most proud and demonstrate the life-changing impact of our support programs.

Accommodations

Tarpon Lodge: Twenty-two units are available to book by Beavertail Skiffs Owners Tournament guests from October 11th – 13th, 2024. A 15% discount is extended on reservations for two or more nights. Tarpon Lodge charges a flat $35 per night dockage and $10 per night trailer parking fee. Contact Tarpon Lodge at (239) 283-3999 for rates and availability.

Cabbage Key: Rooms are available but not held for tournament guests. Note, this property is only accessible by boat – no vehicle access. Eleven units (six rooms and five cottages) are available to book by Beavertail Skiffs Owners Tournament guests from October 11th – 13th, 2024. A 15% discount is extended on reservations for two or more nights. Cabbage Key charges $2.00 per foot per night dockage fee. Contact Tarpon Lodge at (239) 283-3999 for rates and availability.

Alternative Lodging:

Fairfield Inn and Suites (1701 Old Pondella Rd., Cape Coral, FL 33909) is located about 18 miles east of Tarpon Lodge. Contact Fairfield Inn and Suites at 239-652-0269. There is no group rate.

Westin Cape Coral Resort (5951 Silver King Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33914) is located about 21 miles south of Tarpon Lodge. Contact Westin Cape Coral Resort at 239-541-5000. There are no group rates.