Rotary Club Hosts 15th Annual Big River Roundup

For the very first time, Blountstown Rotary Club is now a sanctioned organization for the Cabela’s King Kat Tournament. This means that the Boat Fishing Contestant 1st Place Winning Team will be the Blountstown Rotary Club’s (BRC) representatives to the Cabela’s King Kat Tournament, and the BRC will pay the $500 entry fee for that team to participate. The information about the Cabela’s King Kat Tournament can be found at www.cabelas.com.

The “Big River Roundup” tournament is unlike any other with fierce competition between locals for bragging rights, cash prizes, and $50,000.00 at stake if the current State Record is broken during the event. Boat fishing contestants vie for $2,500 for the largest flathead, $1,000 for second largest, and $500 for third largest. Bank fishing contestants will compete for a $500 top prize, $250 for second largest, and $100 for the third largest flathead caught from the bank.

This year’s Big River Roundup tournament marks the 15th anniversary of the first organized flathead catfish tournament in Florida. Throughout those fifteen years approximately 3,500 fishermen have participated in the Big River Roundup, and an estimated 23,000 pounds of flathead primarily and other catfish species have been weighed in at the tournaments.

Blountstown Rotary is proud to say that their tournament has graced the pages of Field & Stream, Florida Fish & Game, and GAFF magazines. As word of the tournament has spread, fisherman from Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, and even as far as Ohio have regularly traveled to take their chances at winning the event.

The tournament entry fee for adults is $50 per person if pre-registering or $55 per person at the gate. Those 15-years-old and under may enter in the youth category for $25 per person. The first 100 pre-registration participants are eligible to receive 10 free bream for bait. Individuals are encouraged to pre-register to be included in a special pre-registration prize drawing.

For more information on the tournament, a list of rules and an application, visit http://blountstownrotary.com/catfisht.htm. Or, call Tournament Director Phil McMillan at 850/674-8053 or Asst. Tournament Director Phillip Hill at 850/447-1975. Mail applications to Blountstown Rotary Club, P.O. Box 161 Blountstown, FL 32424, or you can drop off at the Calhoun County Senior Center, Gulf State Chemical, Adams Funeral Home, or Wakulla Bank in Blountstown.