SWFL CISMA Invasive Freshwater Fish Roundup

Name: SWFL CISMA Invasive Freshwater Fish Roundup
Start: 2024-04-26T00:00:00-04:00
End: 2024-04-28T15:00:00-04:00
Location: Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World

Schedule

Fri Apr 26 2024 at 12:00 am to Sun Apr 28 2024 at 03:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World | Estero, FL

To register for the event check out this link! https://bit.ly/2024CISMA
To learn more about the tournament and weigh-in festival click the link or read below
The Southwest Florida waterways are home to numerous invasive freshwater fish species. These invasive fish may be causing detrimental changes to our native fish communities, particularly as the number of new species continues to increase. All but two of these fish were introduced illegally as the result of releases of unwanted pets and food fish, or escapees from aquaculture ponds.
WHAT: The Southwest Florida CISMA is hosting the 2024 Southwest Florida Invasive Fish Roundup. PRIZES, ON-SITE ENTERTAINMENT, RAFFLES, AND SWAG! See below!
WHY: This event is being held to raise public awareness about the potential negative impacts of releasing invasive fish into Florida waters, and to encourage anglers to target these invasive species. The Roundup will also gather data about invasive fish distribution and abundance that can assist with future management. There will also be prizes for participants (see details below). There will also be on-site entertainment: there will be live fish tanks with invasive fish, invasive fish filleting demonstrations, a Gyotaku fish print table to commemorate your catch, and educational tables will be set up at the weigh-in at Bass Pro on Sunday, April 28th!
WHO: Open to teams of 1-4 anglers (shore or boat). There will be an adult division (16+) and a junior division (15 and under). Any junior registered on a team with adults will automatically be grouped in the adult category. Registration is LIMITED so sign up today!
WHEN: Competition runs from Friday April 25th to Sunday April 28th. Anglers may begin fishing on Friday at midnight and fish until the in-person weigh-in on Sunday April 28th. We encourge anglers to get to the scales early!
WHERE: All legal freshwater fishing areas in the Southwest Florida CISMA area (Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties). Not sure where to start? Try viewing the species reported distribution maps.
WEIGH-IN: Located at Bass Pro Shop at 10040 Gulf Center Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33913. Scales will be open from 12:00 pm (noon) until 3:00 pm on Sunday, April 28th. Winners MUST be at the weigh-In location when prizes will be announced to receive a prize!
PRIZES: On April 28th there will be Team Prizes issued to Adult Teams AND Junior Teams in the following categories: 1) Highest Net Weight (total weight of all invasive fish caught by an individual or team), 2) Invasive Slam (highest number of invasive fish species caught), and 3) Heaviest Single Fish. Prizes will be awarded for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for the Highest Net Weight category and for 1st place for the Invasive Slam and Heaviest Fish categories. Teams may only win one category which will be selected based on Prize Selection Order (below). There will be a prize table and winning teams will be called to select their preferred prize at the event (one prize per winning team member). Prize winners will be announced after the last team’s fish have been weighed.