PORT MANSFIELD — Nearly 42 years ago, local anglers held a fishing tournament that helped put this tiny fishing village on the map as one of Texas’ top fishing spots.
This week, the Port Mansfield Fishing Tournament will lure hundreds of anglers to town again to hook prize catches.
“It’s going to be an outstanding tournament — first-class fishing, first-class music, first-class entertainment,” said Tom Floyd, president of the Port Mansfield Chamber of Commerce. “We’re getting lots of phone calls — from throughout the Valley and out to Houston and up to San Antonio and Austin. We want it to be a family outing.”
This year, a silting harbor won’t force off-shore boats to weigh their catches out of town.
Instead, organizers will help big off-shore boats haul their catches to the docks.
Organizers will use bay boats to carry off-shore anglers and their catches to the tournament’s weigh-in station at the chamber’s pavilion, Floyd said.
This year will mark a first for anglers fishing with lures.
In that division, anglers will compete for the Terry Neal Perpetual Award for the Largest Trout.
Neal, a fishing guide who’s served as a former tournament director and chamber president, is known to use lures to hook prized catches, Floyd said.
Saturday night, a silent auction will open as the sun sinks low over the Laguna Madre.
This year, the event will feature elaborate fish art, a golf cart, an all-terrain vehicle, ice chests and other items.
“We have an incredible silent auction — the best we’ve ever had,” Floyd said. “We have such a big array of very nice items.”
From 9 to 11 p.m., Grammy-award winner Rick Treviño takes the stage with his home-grown brand of country music.
SCHEDULE
Thursday
Registration 3-10 p.m.
Friday
Fishing opens 6 a.m.
Weigh-in opens 2 p.m.
Saturday
Fishing opens 6 a.m.
Weigh-in opens 2 p.m.
Rick Trevino Band 9 p.m.
Sunday
Awards ceremony 10 a.m.
