Haneman Tournament Scheduled July 24-27

The Capt. Eddy Haneman Sailfish Tournament is seeking additional entries for its 9th run, set for July 24-27 and headquartered at Wrightsville Beach’s Bridge Tender Marina.

“Eddy Haneman was one of the leading captains in this part of North Carolina,” said tournament web-site director Capt. Lee Parsons of Gottafly Guide Service.

In the past, the tournament has had an average of 30 boats, but Parsons said he hopes to increase that number. The event donates profits to Hospice and The Foundation for the Education of Children with Down’s Syndrome. If no sailfish are landed, all monies will go to those charities.

“The purpose of the tournament also is to promote inshore fishing and local fellowship on our beach,” Parsons said. “We want to dedicate this tournament to past charterboat captains and mates. Most fishermen have been inspired by these guys and the fish they caught, along with the stories of their battles.”

Entry fees are $250 per boat with a $100 sailfish calcutta and $50 to enter the dolphin calcutta.

If the tournament obtains 100 entries, the first-place sailfish would be worth $15,000 with the top dolphin worth $3500. Last year’s top sailfish won $7,990 with the No. 1 dolphin earning $2,330.

The tournament is an all-release, circle-hooks-only boundary event. Boats must submit a photo of each release with the leader in the mate’s hand. Anyone who boats a fish will be disqualified.

Fishing boundaries include Masonboro Inlet to Frying Pan Tower to WR-4 to 23-mile rock to Dallas Rock and back to Masonboro Inlet.

To enter, participants may e-mail Parsons at gottaflylee@ec.rr.com or call him at 910-540-2464.

Major donors include the “John Boy and Billy Big Show,” the popular Charlotte-based radio show headed by Graham native John “Boy” Isley; Big Show Foods; RBC Centura; Coastal H/AC; Party Suppliers; Bridge Tender Restaurant; Pete Horst Yacht Sales; Bridge Tender Marina; Coastal Forest Investments; Gregory Poole Equipment Company; Cape Fear Marine Yatch Sales; Allstate Insureance (Dennis Knox Agency); Trident Funding; Martin’s Maritime, Boats Unlimited; Mason's Landing; and the Rib Hut.