Immediate News Release
Contact Information:
Royce Ann Wiggins
Executive Director
936-275-3610
Email sacc611@sbcglobal.net
Website www.sanaugustinetx.com
San Augustine Chamber Announces National High School Fishing Tournament
San Augustine, Texas, March 4, 2013 – The San Augustine Chamber of Commerce has agreed to host the first National High School Open Bass Fishing Tournament ever held on Sam Rayburn Lake. The agreement is with The Bass Federation (TBF) who operates the Student Anglers Federation. Under the agreement TBF will be the organizer, promoter and professionally manage the event titled “The Student Angler Federation Sam Rayburn National High School Open” and will be part of their SAF Open Event Series.
Chamber President Bill Simmons commented “San Augustine County is absolutely thrilled to be hosting the 2013 Sam Rayburn High School Open Bass Fishing Tournament. This gives us a great opportunity to bring high school anglers and their families from all over the country to our beautiful area to experience our world class fishing and hospitality!” The Executive Director of the Chamber Royce Ann Wiggins added that “as a former teacher I am so impressed with how the Bass Federation has created a workbook series that teaches subjects like math and science through the art of bass fishing. A program like this will give many more students a great opportunity to learn and experience the outdoors. It is a family oriented sport with all the sigh school enthusiasm and fun that competitive fishing has to offer”. Ms. Wiggins also announced Terry Sympson from Jackson Hill Marina’s Outdoor Freedom Network as head of the Chambers Host Committee and Jackson Hill Marina as the Host Site for the tournament. The date for the tournament is set for June 21st-23rd with Sunday the 23rd as the official tournament day. The weigh-in and day long tournament festivities will be held at The Bill and Emily Shelton Pavilion located three miles from Jackson Hill.
Mark Gintert, TBF National Youth Director, believes that with the high interest anglers have in fishing Big Sam Rayburn Lake, the tournament may well attract a large number of teams from across the Nation. “Sam Rayburn is regarded as one of the premier bass fishing lakes in America and a favorite among the world’s top Professionals. East Texas is legendary in the world of competitive bass fishing and there are a lot of young anglers down there that have fishing in their blood”, Gintert added.
Event Details:
Angler Celebration: The festivities will kick off with an angler celebration and “High School Block Party” in downtown San Augustine on Friday night June 21st. Anglers, visitors and their families will be treated to a fun evening downtown with music, food, fishing displays and Pro Angler Seminars taking place at the Historic Theatre in Downtown San Augustine.
Mandatory Check-in: Saturday morning will allow all the anglers to pre-fish until the start of registration/check-in at 3:00pm followed by a mandatory rules meeting starting at 5:30pm. Registration will be held at Jackson Hill Marina.
Take Off and Weigh-in: Sunday June 23rd will be the official tournament day with takeoff being at first safe light on Sunday morning at the Cassels-Boykin Park in Zavalla. The weigh-in will also be at the Park at the Bill and Emily Shelton Pavilion at 2:00pm.
All registrations for this event will be on-line at Highschoolfishing.org. REGISTER NOW
Click on the yellow box that says state championships and scroll down to Texas where you will see the Sam Rayburn Open listed.
Host Hotels: Please go to www.sanaugustinetx.com and click on the TBF links or for more information you can contact Terry Sympson at the Host Site Jackson Hill Marina 936-872-9266 they will also maintain updates and useful information on facebook www.facebook.com/JacksonHillMarina or you can contact Royce Ann Wiggins at the San Augustine Chamber 936-275-3610.
About The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing organization. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 40 years. Visit Bassfederation.com.
About Outdoor Freedom Network
Outdoor Freedom Network is a program of Jackson Hill Park and Marina and a growing Network of Sponsors, Partners, Volunteers and Organizations that work together to provide greater understanding, appreciation and access to the Natural Resources of Deep East Texas and economic benefit to all the surrounding communities of Sam Rayburn Lake. Outdoor Freedom’s focus is outdoor recreation and to do social good by raising funds and offering outdoor recreational opportunities for worthy charitable causes and people in need. To accomplish these goals Outdoor Freedom Network continues to develop, promote and host events that bring people together in the great outdoors.
