WEDDING SPECIALS
Choose from a variety of facilities for your wedding or special occasion; Open beachfront area, available for private functions and events.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fish Hard Contact: Sandy Kostick
(239) 822-6593, or
email to pr@fishhardtournaments.com
Celebrity Anglers Line Up for Fish Hard
Captains Al Keller, Bo Johnson, Leiza Fitzgerald, C.A. Richardson and Ray VanHorn will compete in the Fish Hard Tournament and former Major League Baseball Star and current Captain Doug Creek will Support the C.A.S.T. for Kids Event
FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. - May 24, 2007 - Fish Hard for the Future Tournament today announced an impressive cast of celebrity anglers would be competing in the Tournament on June 22-23, 2007, at the Pink Shell Resort and Spa on Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
"We are very excited to announce that Fish Hard has secured five exceptionally talented captains to compete in our tournament on June 23, 2007,” said Captain Bernard Minarcin, Fish Hard tournament director. “Keller, Johnson, Fitzgerald, Richardson and VanHorn are nationally recognized fishing celebrities. Each has been showcased on television and in magazine and newspaper features for their fishing prowess and tournament wins. We're very lucky to have such a talented group participating in the tournament.”
“We are extraordinarily happy to have future Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Captain Doug Creek lend his star power to the C.A.S.T. for Kids Event,” said Minarcin.
2007 ESPN Redfish Cup Winner Captain Al Keller said, “The 2007 Fish Hard Tournament and The C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation is one of the few events that puts children in touch with what most anglers take for granted, the ability to fish.”
“Fishing teaches children to appreciate and to respect wildlife, and children are the future of our sport,” said Captain Bo Johnson. “ As a fishing professional and father, I am proud to be a part of The Fish Hard For The Future Tournament."
“Sometimes it is the very little things that can forever change a child's life,” said Captain Doug Creek . “Fishing and baseball provide similar fun and exhilaration for children: like hitting the ball with the sweet part of bat, setting the hook on a big fish is quite simply an amazing experience.”
“We're going to have a lot of fun with the kids,” said Captain C.A. Richardson. His partner, Captain Ray VanHorn said, “Fun and fishing. Fishing and fun. Throw in some kids, and it couldn't be a better couple of days in paradise.”
“I plan to compete in the Fish Hard Tournament with my two young sons,” said Captain Leiza Fitzgerald. “Fish Hard is also about teaching kids how to teach other kids.”
To learn more about The Fish Hard For The Future Tournament on June 22-23, 2007, anglers can call Captain Bernard Minarcin, tournament director, at (239) 269-6855. Entry forms are available at all West Marine stores, or by visiting www.fishhardtournaments.com and downloading the form. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Sandy Kostick at (239) 822-6593, or email to pr@fishhardtournaments.com.
About Captain Doug Creek
Creek spent 15 years in the Major Leagues with seven different teams. Doug first fell in love with the Tampa Bay area in 1991 when he signed his first pro baseball contract with the St. Louis Cardinals and began Spring Training in St. Petersburg, Florida . He moved to the area permanently in 2000, when he joined the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Creek currently captains a 2007 Century 2202 Bay Boat sponsored by the makers of Red Baron Pizza. During the 2006 season, he competed in the FLW Redfish tour; he finished in the top 15 in the Professional Tarpon Tournament in Boca Grande, Florida, and finished fourth in the Jim Beam Tarpon Cup Championship. For a thrill of a lifetime and a day of fishing and fish tales, visit http://www.dougcreekfishing.com.
About Captain Leiza Fitzgerald
Captain Leiza has been able to incorporate her passion for hunting and fishing into her career. She is a proven competitive tournament angler, she and her fishing partner, Captain Merrily Dunn have won numerous tournaments and are the first women's team to ever qualify, the first year on tour, for the IFA Ranger Redfish Championships. Their team is ranked the #1 Ladies Red Fish Team in the country and in the Top 25 teams for ESPN Red Fish Cup Tour 2006. They are also ranked 10 th overall in 2007 for the “All Stars” which is comprised of the top 25 red fish teams in the country. She is a featured instructor for the Extreme Backwater Fishing School, Ladies Let's Go Fishing, Becoming an Outdoors Women and "Fishing Lines" a PBS program aired throughout the state of Florida . She is also a pro-staff angler for Ranger Boats, Evinrude Motors, Shimano, Minn Kota, Lowrance, Power Pole, Stiffy Push Poles, Navionics, Royal Robbins Adventure Clothing, High Roller Lures and Exude Baits. Leiza is an active member of the Coastal Conservation Association, Tampa Bay Watch, The Snook Foundation, Florida Wildlife Commission, Quail Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited and The Safari Club.
About Captain Bo Johnson
Johnson is a native of Southwest Florida. He is an expert in stalking fish on the shallow flats of Pine Island, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor. Johnson has appeared on dozens of TV shows including "On the Fly" and "Tales of the Everglades Angler." Johnson's storied history is chronicled at http://www.fishtenacity.com.
About Captain Al Keller
Keller is a Florida native and he has been fishing the inland lakes and shallow saltwater flats of South Florida for over 20 years. He is an Orvis-endorsed guide and fly-fishing instructor as well. Keller competes in the ESPN Redfish Cup, FLW Redfish Tour and other saltwater tournaments throughout the year. He is sponsored by Dolphin Boats of Miami, Florida. Keller has been featured in regional and national magazines and television including ESPN2, Sportfishing Magazine and “Tales of The Everglades Angler.”
About Captain C.A. Richardson
Captain Richardson is a resident of St. Petersburg, Florida and team member to Ray VanHorn. He has been competing in inshore saltwater tournaments for more than 10 years. He has proven to be an upper echelon competitor with nine, top-10 finishes in pro tour events and two top-five finishes in the FLW Team of the Year title race.
About Captain Ray VanHorn
Captain VanHorn lives in Tarpon Springs, Florida and is team member to C.A. Richardson.
He is a veteran angler with a diverse list of accomplishments. He won the 2002 Inshore Fishing Association (IFA) Redfish Tour Championship, and has proven himself to be a consistent angler with numerous top-10 finishes. Ray fished the Bassmaster Tour for six years before crossing over to the inshore saltwater circuit.