The annual Tuna Classic, the largest outdoor charity tournament event in the Pacific Northwest, launches from the fishing village of Garibaldi on the Tillamook Coast on Friday and Saturday, August 21 and 22, 2015. The competition draws more than 300 fishing participants and 600 guests. Last year, the teams hooked 15,000 pounds of tuna, which was donated to food banks on the northern and central Oregon coast.
Although not required to do so, anglers often donate their ‘five biggest tuna catch’ competition winnings to the food banks; in 2014 alone, food banks received $45,000. The event starts Friday with early fishing fun and social events. Saturday is the main fishing competition, and in the evening a barbecue and awards dinner.
“Over its 11-year history, the organization has donated more than $1 million dollars to charities on the Oregon coast, said Del Stephens, director of Tuna Classic. In addition, participants and visitors spend each year more than $350,000 in the host community during the two-day event.”
The Tuna Classic is also a qualifying event for the Offshore World Fishing Championships in Costa Rica, so it attracts avid anglers from all over the U.S.
For more information on the Garibaldi Tuna Classic, visit www.oregontunaclassic.org. To plan your visit to the Tillamook Coast, go to www.tillamookcoast.com.
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