By Gerri Miller
Elmore-Autauga News Staff Writer
The bigger the fish, the bigger the prizes!
The Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC) will host the Sixth Annual Big Fish Bass Tournament on Saturday, April 16, at Lake Jordan from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anglers can sign up on the day of the tournament.
MACC Executive Director Brenda Dennis said it was exciting to bring the event back after a two-year hiatus because of COVID-19. “This is a fundraiser that has been in place for many years. We are glad to have this opportunity to bring people back together again.”
The event was the brainchild of Millbrook City Councilman Hal Hodge back in 2015. “My (late) brother Boyd was always involved in fishing tours and I knew I could get his help on it.”
The registration fee is $60 per angler and no more than two anglers per boat. Checks should be made out to the Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce. You can mail or drop off your registration at the Chamber. The MACC mailing address is 3390 Main Street, Millbrook, AL 36054.
You may also register online via the MACC website at http://www.millbrookareachamber.com/
or the Events Section of the MACC Facebook page.
For morning of the tournament registrations, registration will be at Bonner’s Landing starting at 3:30 a.m. and ending at 6 a.m. If entry fees are not collected before 6 a.m., the angler will not be eligible for weigh-in.
Weigh-in is every hour for Big Fish and then an end of tournament award for Biggest Bass of the day. Weigh-ins will be at 7 a.m. -8 a.m., 8:01 a.m.-9 a.m., 9:01a.m.-10 a.m., and continue until the last weigh-in at 2 p.m. Only one fish per hour can be weighed in per angler. All weigh-ins will be at Bonner’s Landing. You may trailer to weigh in.
Once you enter the weigh-in line, you must weigh your fish. No backing out of line. After your fish has been weighed in, it becomes property of the tournament and will be returned to the water by tournament officials, not by the anglers.
Top three big fish every hour weighed-in will receive a payout of $300, $200, and $100. Overall big fish for the tournament will receive a bonus payout of $1000. Biggest fish for angler 16 years old or younger will receive $300.
Fish must be a 12-inch minimum length. No shorter fish will be weighed in. Large mouth and spotted bass only allowed. Each angler can weigh-in one (1) fish per hour. You do not have to weigh the fish in the hour that it has been caught. Person catching the fish must be the angler to weigh it in.
No trolling or live bait (artificial bait only). All site fish must be caught in mouth. This is strictly a catch and release tournament. Dead fish will not be weighed in.
No elite or touring professional anglers are allowed to participate in the tournament.
MACC Premiere sponsors for the tournament include the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative and 1Social Buzz. Big Bass Fishing Tournament sponsors include the City of Millbrook, Air Now, ASE Credit Union, RB&T, Catfish House, Garner Electric, Alabama Wildlife Federation, Elmore County Economic Development Authority, Liveoak Insurance Agency and First Community Bank.
Steve Mullis, a MACC board member and Chairman of the Committee, said if you have a business interested in sponsoring the event, please call him at (334) 322-9923. There are three levels: Presenting Sponsor ($1,000), Platinum ($500) and Gold ($250).
Bonner’s Landing is located at 157 Bonners Point Road in Wetumpka
