Tampa Bay Spearfishing Club
Winter Invitational Spearfishing Tournament
The first annual “TBSC Winter Invitational Spearfishing Tournament” is scheduled for March 17, 2007 at the Ft. Desoto Boat Ramp in St. Petersburg, Florida. This spearfishing tournament is organized and directed by the Tampa Bay Spearfishing Club (TBSC) and run under the approval of the Florida Skin Diving Association (FSDA). Proceeds from this event will benefit the Fishing Rights Alliance (FRA) and the TBSC. All Scuba and Freedive spearfishermen and women are invited to participate in this tournament.
This fun tournament will establish cold water spearfishing bragging rights for Florida divers.
Most Florida spearfishing tournaments take place in the summer months. The water temperature is more than 20 degrees warmer in the summer. The benefit of having this tournament in the colder waters of March is that the fish populations are in shallower water during this time. In fact, due to the cooler water temperatures, many spearfishermen find large concentrations of Groupers, Snappers and other tournament species near shore and in Tampa Bay. The water may be colder in March, but the distance that divers have to travel to find the fish is much less.
The “TBSC Winter Invitational” is an aggregate tournament. An aggregate tournament is designed to determine the best all-around shooter of all seven categories. There are six fish categories and a lobster category. The top five aggregate spearfishermen will be honored with beautiful etched trophies. In addition to the notoriety of the aggregate winners, the divers who weigh-in the largest species in each category will receive the same quality trophies. A special accomplishment trophy will be awarded to the Junior spearfisherman or woman who scores the most points by those under 18 years of age.
The Captains meeting and late registration will be held at Aquatic Obsessions Scuba at 6193 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33710 on March 16, 2007 from 7pm to 8:30pm. Pre-registration begins on February 15, 2007 and ends on March 2, 2007. Pre-registration participants will receive a discounted entry fee as well as a short-sleeve tournament collector’s shirt. The spearfishing, the weigh-in and the awards ceremony will all be on
Saturday, March 17, 2007.
Rules and Registration
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TBSC
Notice – Thursday March 15, 2007 (1301 hours)
Due to the most current weather predictions for this Saturday with winds
just under Small Craft Advisories and the propensity for Saturday’s
winds to generate Small Craft Warnings, the Tampa Bay Spearfishing Club
is moving the 2007 TBSC Winter Invitational to the Original Rain Date
and implementing the Original Alternate Rain Date. The Rain Date is next
weekend, March 23 and 24, 2007. The times and locations are the same.
The Diver’s Check In, Late Registration & Captain’s Meeting will be on
Friday March23 and the tournament diving, weigh-in and awards will be on
Saturday March 24, 2007. The Alternate Rain Date is scheduled for March
30 and 31, 2007. The Alternate Rain Date is available only if the
tournament cannot be held on March 23 & 24, 2007. We thank all
spearfishermen for their patience in this matter. Weather is always the
final hurdle in off-shore or near-shore diving. We are glad that the
initial turn out and interest in this tournament is so high. We have
collected just under $10, 000 of bonus prizes to give out to
participants of this tournament. And we are very happy that so many
divers have stepped up to participate in an event that helps to add
financial support to “Diver’s Rights” and the FRA.
Dive Smart, Dive Safe,
Bill Hardman, TBSC Vice President
The 2007 TBSC Winter Invitational was moved to the Raindate of March 23 & 24th. The weather, so far, looks like it will cooperate with our tournament for this weekend. So, plan on the Divers Check In, Late Registration and Captain’s Meeting for this Friday from 7pm to 9pm at Aquatic Obsessions. We now have over $10,000 in prizes to give away to the participants and the T-shirts and Trophies look awesome. If you have any questions regarding this tournament, please contact Capt. Bill Hardman at (727) 656-9714.