Pop quiz: What’s the best fishing tournament on the entire East Coast? Hands-down, no question about it, absolutely, positively, it’s Fish For a Cure. Sure, there are plenty of angling events that make bigger headlines and offer big cash payouts. Big whoop—is fishing all about fame and fortune? Not in our world. We fish because we love it, and when it comes to Fish For a Cure we love it because it’s the right thing to do.
Fish For a Cure is all about raising funds to directly benefit the Cancer Survivorship Program at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute. That’s a mouthful, but we can explain it in very simple terms: participating in Fish For a Cure means you’re helping cancer patients make it through the toughest time of their lives. It means you’re supporting people who really need it, at a time when they really need it. And best of all, the efforts culminate in a day of friendly competitive fishing followed by an epic after-party.
But this isn’t a one-day event. From now right up until tournament day teams are competing in the Captain’s Challenge. This is the fundraising competition which everyone participates in, and it’s what generates those big cancer-fighting bucks. Last year the Captain’s Challenge accounted for a record-breaking $1.2 million dollars to help thousands of our family members and friends in a time of need.
Here’s another pop quiz: do any of your angling buddies have loved ones who have battled the scourge of cancer? Are any of them survivors themselves? Call whoever popped into your mind just now, tell them about Fish For a Cure, and invite them to be part of your team. Yes, YOUR team—because you’re about to go to fishforacure.org, click on the Tournament tab, and register your boat. Then put together your crew, and map out a plan for raising funds in the Captain’s Challenge. This may sound a bit daunting at first, but there’s a Fish For a Cure “Digital Tacklebox” with tips and resources that can help.
The gloves are off and no holds are barred, so you can fundraise in whatever way you’d like. Team FishTalk/PropTalk heldour annual online auction, some teams hold events like crab feasts or parties to boost their fundraising, and others “sell” fishing trips aboard the team boat for donations. Use your imagination—anything you can do to help make the Captain’s Challenge a success is fair game.
When November 7 arrives, fellow anglers, we’ll all get to go fishing. We’ll be trying to catch the longest stringer of three striped bass; we’ll be competing to catch the longest grand slam (three fish of different species); we’ll be dropping lines to catch the longest stringer of five perch; and we’ll be vying to catch the longest stringer of three invasive species (blue catfish, flathead catfish, and snakeheads). We’ll fish anywhere and everywhere in the Chesapeake Bay, then snap off photos of the catch on a F4AC measuring device and upload entries via the iAngler app. Afterwards we’ll hit the Shore Party. And we’ll all sleep well, knowing we’ve done our part to help people fighting cancer—thanks to going fishing for a cure.
Fish For a Cure By The Numbers
- 4 – The number of kayakers that can register together as a one-boat team.
- 125 – Donate $125 or more to the cause and you’ll get a coveted F4AC T-shirt!
- 501 (plus a c and a 3) – The Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation’s nonprofit organization status, so yes, donations are tax-deductible.
- 1500 dollars – The minimum amount teams are expected to raise in the Captain’s Challenge.
- 2000 (plus) – The number of family members, friends, and neighbors impacted by the program.
- 59,079.29 dollars – The amount raised by Team Hullabaloo & the Kahan Center, last year’s winner in the Open League Captain’s Challenge.
- 217,412.89 dollars – The amount raised by team Reel Counsel, last year’s winner in the Legends League (made up of former Open League winners) Captain’s Challenge.
- 7.7 Million dollars – The amount F4AC has raised over time.
You say there's no way your schedule allows you to participate? Help support Team FishTalk/PropTalk and DONATE NOW to the cause!