May 22, 2022
The Wolfson Children’s Hospital hosted their 33rd Annual Charity Bass Tournament out of Palatka on May 21st. The event typically draws between 800 to 1,000 competitors, and the proceeds help to benefit over 60,000 children and their families. Along with raising money for the hospital, anglers have the opportunity to compete for a $10,000.00 grand prize. The festivities for the event kick off with the Lads and Lasses tournament on Thursday, followed by the VIP and Friends tournament on Friday, leading up to the main event on Saturday.
Austin Black (L) and Wyatt Kinney (R) with the winning stringer at 29.89 pounds
This year, 321 teams tested their skills and knowledge of the St. Johns River system to secure their names amongst their 31 predecessors. Young anglers Wyatt Kinney & Austin Black accomplished that task by weighing in the largest bag brought across the scales throughout the three events. Their winning catch weighed 29.89 pounds and was anchored by the 3rd overall Big Bass, an 8.36 pound lunker.
“We probably caught 20 fish today,” said Black. “We started the morning shallow and caught most of our fish by 9:00.” Their 8.36 pound kicker didn’t eat until later in the day. “The bite slowed, so we transitioned to fishing offshore. I caught the big one on a crankbait around 12:30,” Black added.
Jay Flositz with the event’s Big Bass at 8.82 pounds
Kinney and Black’s near 30 pound limit gave them a decidedly huge winning margin of more than 5 pounds towards their $11,000.00 payday, 3rd Big Bass included. Brett Bollinger & Justin Atkinson took the runner up spot. Bollinger and Atkinson brought 5 fish to the scales, weighing 24.57 pounds, locking them into a $4,000.00 check. Michael Hall and Tracey Duckett locked in a third place finish with 23.62 pounds, and a $3,000.00 prize. Rounding out the Top 5 were Steve Bishop & Dell Massie in fourth with 22.61 pounds ($2,500.00) and Ronnie Council & Jimmy Drury in fifth with 22.41 pounds ($1,750.00).
1st Big Bass honors went to Jeremy Golloway & Jay Flositz. Their 8.82 pound Trophy Catch netted them $5,000.00. 2nd Big Bass went to Michael Finnick & Ray Breeden with an 8.55 pound bass to earn $1,000.00.
The goal for this year’s event was to raise $500,000.00 to benefit the Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. That money will be put towards life saving equipment and technology in the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Heart Institute at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. The fundraising efforts have raised almost $320,000.00 at the time of this writing, but the donating does not end with the finale of the tournament. One of the ways the hospital is raising funds is through chance to win tickets for a new Bullet 21XRS bass boat powered by a Mercury Marine 250 Pro XS motor. The boat, valued at $78,000.00, will go to one lucky recipient. Those chance to win tickets will be available for purchase through June 3rd, 2022, with the drawing to be held June 4th, 2022. Usual donations are being accepted as well.
The 34th Annual Wolfson Children’s Hospital Charity Bass Tournament is already scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 20th, 2023. The $140 entry per boat includes Big Bass. Early bird registration is currently open for the 34th annual event, those wishing to register early can do so here.
For a list of full results, click here.
About Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament
Since 1989, the Tournament has helped Wolfson Children’s Hospital fund specialized treatments, lifesaving technology, and capital improvements.
The Plant Facilities Department at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville organized and launched the tournament as a vehicle to fund capital improvements and acquisition of advanced technology. From its inception, the Tournament has raised more than $6 million for Wolfson Children’s.
This year’s event is focused on funding life-saving equipment and technology in the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Heart Institute at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Baptist Health will match a portion of all gifts to the Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament for the Wolfson Bass Tournament Endowment Fund.
Photos Credit: Becky Williams
