Over the past nine years, $185,000.00 in donated monies has allowed the school to provide an after school tutoring program, stock their library with over 5,000 books, schedule educational field trips and provide supplemental educational materials, along with scholarships for higher learning to many graduated seniors and G.E.D. students. The principal; Steven Hook, stated that the Matlacha Hookers have made a huge impact on the students and have been a major factor in Pine Island Elementary consistently receiving an “A” rating for the past 18 years.

During our event we have two types of fishing. The Derby is for the children who fish by land with help from parents and volunteers. Each child is provided with a brand new rod and reel and all the bait they need to catch “the big one”. The rod and reels are theirs to keep. We have seen kids hook into all types of fish over the years from puffer fish to grouper. Trophies are given to the place winners of each division. The adult angler’s CPR tournament begins at 7am with final fish entries in at 3pm. The adults are fishing for cash prizes awarded to the longest combined length of snook, redfish and trout and longest of each for a slam.

Applications & Event Registration can be found online at www.Eventful.com or www.eventbrite.com – key word Pine Island Elementary and on Facebook event page – 21st Annual Pine Island Elementary Fishing Tournament & Derby or by simply going to our website at www.matlachahookers.org

For further information or questions please call Kate Swanstrom 303-550-4459, Sandy Kerr 305-849-1539 or Julia Simpson 239-298-1113; 12thmadam.julia@gmail.com

If you are interested in donating an item for one of our auctions or to sponsor a child to fish in the event, please check out our website at www.matlachahookers.org .

All of this wouldn’t be possible without the help of everyone in our community; residents, businesses, anglers and patrons of this annual event. We thank you in advance for your generosity and look forward to seeing you there.