The Bradenton Yacht Club boasts a large community of anglers who enjoy fishing local waters, the Bahamas and beyond. From Fly Rod purists to Offshore enthusiasts to Tarpon & Snook fanatics to just fun family fishing, our members do it all. In May, we host our annual Crosthwait Memorial Fishing Tournament. This is the oldest amateur event in the state providing a family oriented event that also benefits local charities. The Fireman’s Charity Fishing Tournament benefitting burned children and the Desoto Fishing Tournament, part of the month long Manatee County Desoto Festival, are held here in July.

The Crosthwait Memorial, Firemen’s Charity and DeSoto Tournaments totaled well over 200 boats and more than a thousand participants. The number of visitors to the BYC is difficult to calculate but is in the thousands. Volunteers numbered about 80 with many working in multiple tournaments. Income from the tournaments is pumped right back into the community as services purchased or charity distributed. Identifiable financial impact, cash spent locally, for the community this year was conservatively $225,000. This number does not include the cost of boats, rods & reels or miscellaneous equipment purchased by participants or money spent by volunteers and sponsors while working at the events.

In addition to contributions to local charities - The BYC Crosthwait Memorial Fishing Tournament has provided scholarships totaling $9,500 to local students.

This is my fifth year of involvement with the tournaments and my third as the board member with direct responsibilities toward fishing tournaments. It was a great honor to serve as Chairman of the Crosthwait this year. The number of thanks received was overwhelming to the point of surreal. Gratitude came from members, local business contributors, tournament volunteers and more importantly strangers thanking the Bradenton Yacht Club. Those thanks are largely due to good planning and fantastic execution by our member volunteers and particularly by our staff.

New this year is the Bradenton Yacht Club Electronic Catch Board reflecting catch and release statistics of members as well as photographs.

Mike Reeves
Fleet Captain Sportfishing