Holy Nativity Episcopal School hosted its 17th annual fishing tournament and fish fry Friday and Saturday at the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club to raise money.
“This year, some of the money will go toward buying new tablets for the school,” said event chairman Kurt Grabner, who has two children at the school.
Past tournaments have raised money for new computer systems and a Wi-Fi network, Grabner said.
Funds are raised through donations from tournament sponsors, which this year included Hancock Bank, Syfrett & Dykes, Inland Construction and Engineering Inc., Panhandle Pediatric Dentistry, Kelley Kronenberg and Robert Lloyd and family. Money also comes from entry fees, fish fry tickets and raffle tickets for prizes, including tuition at HNES, a boat and a stand-up paddleboard.
Saturday’s fish fry featured fish caught during the tournament. There was plenty to go around.
“We’re good at this. We got a big one: 30-pound king mackerel,” said 15-year-old Thomas Stone, who caught the fish and was confident it would win him some prizes. Thomas, a former HNES student himself, participated in the tournament with his father.
“I enjoy fishing in this tournament. It’s my second year. It’s been a blast,” he said.
Preliminary numbers from Friday night showed participants had reeled in more than 300 pounds of fish. Last year, only about half that had been caught by the first night’s weigh-in, Grabner said.
The tournament raised roughly $28,000 from sponsors alone, Grabner said.
Grabner expressed gratitude for the many volunteers. He said the event called for hard work but that it was for a good cause.
“It’s easy to find a reason to do it,” he said. “It’s a nice way for the community to come and enjoy themselves and go catch fish.”