2014 High Tides Tournament Benefits the Brendan Fund with Award
Ceremony and Dinner ...

Story by Bob Misak

Carpenter’s Local 255 South Jersey cares about Kids with Cancer ...

Once again, the time is nearing for the Eighth Annual "High Tides Striper Tournament". The tournament is sponsored by the South Jersey Carpenters Local 255. and is an extravaganza that last year donated over $33,000 to the Brendan's Fund, an organization that supports children with pediatric cancer. The High Tides Tournament will take place on Saturday, November 08, 2014. This striper "fish-off" is open to the public, so if you love to fish for stripers, you can not only have fun fishing with old friends (and NEW ones!) as well as contribute to a very worthy cause!

Frank Rich hold's last year's High Tides Tournament winning striper. The fish weighed 42.46 lbs. This years first place bass could be worth more than $4000.

The cash prizes will be quite substantial. The First Place striper will be worth $4000 and if the winner is a SeaTow member, they will get another $250 bonus! Cash prizes will be awarded for the top five stripers weighed in. Before October 1st, the Entry Fee is $50 per person. That includes your registration, entry to the awards ceremony and dinner after the awards. After October 1st, the entry fee will be $60.00. If you just wish to attend the awards ceremony and dinner, tickets are available at $25.00. If you can't fish, you can still have a great time at the awards and dinner, as well as contribute to Brendan's Fund.

George James shows off his 35.51 lb. Striper which took 2nd Place in last year's tournament. The fish was weighed in at Off the Hook Bait & Tackle in Cape May.

Come on out and "Wet a Line" for the Kids!

There are two places anglers can go to sign up. For our North Central and Northern Jersey friends, you can register at Hoffman's Marina, 602 Green Ave. Manasquan, located at the foot of the Manasquan Bridge. South Central and South Jersey anglers can sign up at V.F.W. Post 386, located at Congress Street in Cape May. The Carpenter's Local 255, who administers and sponsors the tournament will hold the tournament's "Captain's Meetings" on Friday evening, November 07, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The weigh-in station for Cape May anglers will be at Hinch's Marina, 989 Ocean Ave. in Cape May on the Saturday of the tournament. The northern weigh-ins will be at Hoffman's Marina in Manasquan.

It is tournaments like these that I personally love to fish, simply due to the cause. This is a great day to go out and fish with friends or family, and duly supporting one of the best reasons one can think of to enter...to help kids who have been stricken by what many feel is an unfair illness. Carpenter's Local 255 members and their "sharpies" are urged to join in and participate, and this is also a tournament that takes place during the height of the Striped Bass "Fall Run" here at the Jersey Shore.

There will be food and refreshments served at sign-up time, as well as an awesome dinner on the Saturday of the tournament, after the prizes have been awarded. You can view rules and regulations as well as confirm captain's meetings by going online at http://www.hightidesstripertournament.com or by visiting Local 255's office at 3300 White Horse Pike, Hammonton, N.J. or Facebook. You can also download the registration form by clicking HERE. See you on November 08...come on out and wet a line for the kids!