Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament

“Kayak Fishing in Southwest Florida,” the fourth and final talk in a series of free Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail-related programs, is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, at the Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center, 16760 Bass Road, Fort Myers.

Presenter Justin Stuller, owner of Estero River Outfitters, will be discussing tips, tricks, trends and equipment to help participants to become more productive paddlecraft anglers.
“Paula Stuller was the original owner of the iconic shop and one of the driving forces behind establishing the Calusa Blueway over twenty years ago,” said Calusa Blueway Coordinator Mike Hammond of Lee County Parks & Recreation. “Her three sons grew up at the shop and have been on, in or near the water almost every day of their lives. They now run Estero River Outfitters and will share their extensive paddling and fishing knowledge during their talk.”
For more information and directions to the program, contact Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center at 239-533-6850.

The Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament will not be held in 2025.

We are hopeful the tournament may return in the future. However, the challenges that SWFL has faced in the past few years has diminished resources and the time needed to run the tournament up to our standards.

50 kayak anglers from all over the country participated in this year’s 21st Annual Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament which took place on Saturday November 9th 2024 💪🙌🎣🐟🙏

Thanks in great part to all our participants, volunteers and sponsors such as FFI Contracting Services, Power Queen Honc Marine SeawallsYucatan Waterfront, Ascend Technologies Group, The Great Calusa Blueway Surf 9 Lehrs Economy Tackle Inc Estero River Outfitters Total Wine & More, King Fisher Fleet Bahama Breeze Island Grille Elon Fishin-dips Hertzfeld Shannon Raiche🙌 🙏We raised just under $8,000 with a combination of tournament entries, sponsorships, raffles and silent auction items! 💪🙌

Special thank you to Scotty's Bierwerks for generously donating their space to host our captains meeting & weigh-in 🙌🙏

$3400 was donated directly to Candlelighters of Southwest Florida whose mission is to provide support, education & assistance to families of children with cancer and blood disorders.

Wnners of the 2024 Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament:

➡️🥇1st Place: Dave Dricoll 76.5 total inches
➡️🥈2nd Place: chris Foust 76.25 total inches 🏆
➡️🥉3rd Place: J. Suleski 75.75 total inches🏆

👉Longest Trout: P. Rickert 25 inches
👉Longest Red: J Suleski 27.75 inches
👉Longest Snook: Eloy Custodio 30.75 inches

We had a great turn out at the 2024 Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament with a Total of 50 Anglers signed up! 🙌🎣🙏

Thank you to our premier sponsor FFI Contracting Services for their continued support and generosity🙏🙌

Top 3 Anglers were awarded with over $2000 in cash & prizes including:

👉3-12V100ah batteries from our sponsor Power Queen valued at $600! 🙌🙌🙌

🥇1st Place: Dave Dricoll 76.5 in inches
🥈2nd Place: chris Foust 76.25 inches
🥉3rd Place: J. Suleski 75.75 inches

🏆Prizes were also awarded for👇

Longest Trout: P. Rickert 25 inches
Longest Red: J Suleski 27.75 inches
Longest Snook: Eloy Custodio 30.75 inches

🏆Kids division:
1st Place: Jace Kelso 30 inches
2nd Place: Jacob Kelso 19.75 inches

Thank you to all of our sponsors and volunteers for once again making this a great event with all proceeds going to Candlelighters of Southwest Florida 🙌🙏❤️

Scotty's Bierwerks
Surf 9
Get Fried Food Truck
Honc Marine Seawalls
Yucatan Waterfront
Elon Fishin-dips Hertzfeld
Shannon Raiche
King Fisher Fleet
Lehrs Economy Tackle Inc
Estero River Outfitters
The Great Calusa Blueway
Total Wine & More
Gulf Coast Kayak
Ascend Technologies Group

Last chance to Bid on Silent Auctions & purchase your Raffle🎟️ 🎟️ on to win a Surf 9 ISUP! 👏👏👏 All proceeds benefit Candlelighters of Southwest Florida ❤️ Help Kids with Cancer🙌🙏

Auction Items & Raffles 🎟️👉 https://tinyurl.com/mwuhr5x8
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BIG THANK YOU to Yucatan Waterfront for their continued support and sponsorship of the Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament 🙏❤️

A regular spot for both locals and visitors alike, Yucatan Waterfront Bar & Grill is the ultimate gathering place to enjoy island inspired cuisine and cocktails accompanied by music, laughter, and fun! 👉 https://yucatanwaterfront.com/

All proceeded benefit Candlelighters of Southwest Florida

Auction Items & Raffles 🎟️👉 https://tinyurl.com/mwuhr5x8

Sign-up to Fish the 2024 Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament🏆: 👉https://tinyurl.com/3kb37fnt

➡️ Captains Meeting & weigh-In Ceremony Friday November 8th & Saturday November 9th Scotty's Bierwerks🍻

* 1st Place Prize $1000🥇💪🎣
* 2nd Place Prize $500 🥈💪🎣
* 3rd Place Prize $250 🥉💪🎣
*Prizes for Longest Red, Snook & Trout
***Door Prizes, giveaways, raffles & silent auction items***
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BIG THANK YOU to Honc Marine Seawalls for their continued support and sponsorship of the Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament🙏❤️

Honc Marine has been building and repairing seawalls, concrete docks and concrete patios in Southwest Florida for more than 65 years! For more info contact them 👉 https://honcmarine.com/

All proceeded benefit Candlelighters of Southwest Florida

Auction Items & Raffles 🎟️👉 https://tinyurl.com/mwuhr5x8

Sign-up to Fish the 2024 Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament🏆: 👉https://tinyurl.com/3kb37fnt

➡️ Captains Meeting & weigh-In Ceremony Friday November 8th & Saturday November 9th Scotty's Bierwerks🍻

* 1st Place Prize $1000🥇💪🎣
* 2nd Place Prize $500 🥈💪🎣
* 3rd Place Prize $250 🥉💪🎣
*Prizes for Longest Red, Snook & Trout
***Door Prizes, giveaways, raffles & silent auction items***
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Buy Raffle Tickets 🎟️ for a chance to win a Surf 9 ISUP & Bid on some awesome Silent Auctions Items 🙌❤️ Come by Scotty's Bierwerks this Saturday from 12-4pm & Help Kids with Cancer🙏 All proceeds benefit Candlelighters of Southwest Florida❤️

Auction Items & Raffles 🎟️👉 https://tinyurl.com/mwuhr5x8

Sign-up to Fish 2024 Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament🏆: 👉https://tinyurl.com/3kb37fnt

➡️ Captains Meeting & weigh-In Ceremony Friday November 8th & Saturday November 9th Scotty’s Bierwerks🍻

* 1st Place Prize $1000🥇💪🎣
* 2nd Place Prize $500 🥈💪🎣
* 3rd Place Prize $250 🥉💪🎣
*Prizes for Longest Red, Snook & Trout
***Door Prizes, giveaways, raffles & silent auction items***
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BIG THANK YOU 🙏 to FFI Contracting Services for their continued support & generous sponsorship of the 2024 Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament🙌🙌🙌

If you’re looking for exceptional service and award winning design look no further than FFI Contracting Services 👉https://www.ffi1.com/ P. 239-333-1779

Sign-up to Fish Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament🏆: 👉 https://tinyurl.com/3kb37fnt

➡️ Captains Meeting & weigh-In Ceremony Friday November 8th & Saturday November 9th Scotty's Bierwerks🍻

* 1st Place Prize $1000🥇💪🎣
* 2nd Place Prize $500🥈💪🎣
* 3rd Place Prize $250🥉💪🎣
*Prizes for Longest Red, Snook & Trout
***Door Prizes, giveaways, raffles & silent auction items***

BIG THANK YOU to this year’s sponsor Power Queen for donating 3-12V100ah batteries valued at $600 for the top 3 Winners 🏆of this year’s Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament🙌

➡️ Captains Meeting & weigh-In Ceremony Friday November 8th & Saturday November 9th Scotty's Bierwerks🍻

➡️ Lunch for anglers will be provided by Get Fried Food Truck 😋

* 1st Place Prize $1000 + 12V100ah Power Queen Battery🥇💪🎣
* 2nd Place Prize $500 + 12V100ah Power Queen Battery🥈💪🎣
* 3rd Place Prize $250 + 12V100ah Power Queen Battery🥉💪🎣
*Prizes for Longest Red, Snook & Trout
***Door Prizes, giveaways, raffles & silent auction items***