JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Competitive bass fishermen and casual anglers will compete on Saturday, May 20, 2017, at the 28th Annual Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament. What has grown into the nation’s second-largest bass fishing tournament takes place each year in Palatka, Florida, the “Bass Capital of the World,” to benefit patients of Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
The weather is shaping up to be warm, sunny, and breezy for most of the tournament.
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The tournament draws an exciting range of anglers, from novice to professional, and it has grown every year, thanks to generous sponsors and participants who contributed $315,000 to Wolfson Children’s Hospital last year and more than $4 million total. Last year’s tournament drew 688 registered boats, 1,376 fishermen, and more than a hundred volunteers and supporters who enjoy the tournament and three days of activities associated with it.
Prior to the main event on May 20, the Annual Lads and Lasses Bass Tournament will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2017, and the Annual VIP and Friends Bass Tournament will be held on Friday, May 19, 2017, from safe light until 3 pm. On Thursday the temperatures start out in the upper 60s, but warm quickly into the low 90s under clear, sunny skies. Winds will be out of the East around 10 mph. On Friday, the temperatures for the start of the VIP and friends tournament will be at 68°. You will notice a slight build in cloud cover, from 18% cloud cover at sunrise to 40% cloud cover by the afternoon hours, making for partly cloudy skies. Temperatures will top out at 90°, and wind will be out of the East around 10 mph. Chances for a shower on Friday are only at 20%.
Saturday, for the main event, the weather starts out with 50% cloud cover (partly cloudy skies) and temperatures in the low 70s. We will see an ever-so-slight decrease in cloud cover throughout the day, down to 35% by sunset. Winds will be out of the East between 8-11 mph. Afternoon temperatures will to out at 90°. There is a 30% chance for a passing shower in the afternoon hours.
A drawing will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2017, at the tournament’s final weigh-in event for a 21-foot, fully rigged 2017 Bullet 21XRD with Boatmate trailer and Mercury 225 Pro XS motor valued at over $56,000. A door prize drawing will also add excitement with the chance to win $5,000 in prizes.
“Participating in any event that supports Wolfson Children’s Hospital is an honor,” said Tournament Chairman Brian Seay of Miller Electric in Jacksonville. “Watching this tournament grow over the years and become such a successful fundraiser for our area’s only children’s hospital has been incredibly fulfilling. I’m so thankful to be part of it, and to know that we are making a difference in the lives of children.”
The tidal predictions for the St Johns River in Palatka are:
Thursday-
Low at 2:15a.m, High at 8:23a.m, Low again at 4:11p.m, and coming back in to be high at 9:03p.m.
Friday-
The tide is low at 3:15a.m, coming back in to be high at 9:21a.m, headed back out and is low at 5:05p.m, and coming back in to be high at 10:17p.m.
Saturday-
Low tide at 4:24a.m, High again at 10:32 a.m, Headed back out to be low at 5:58p.m, and High again at 11:38 p.m.
We'd love to see your tournament and weigh in photos and videos, if you upload them to out StormPins app, Meteorologist Mark Collins may show them on the weekend news. You can get the StormPins app here:
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