FOLEY — The 12^th annual Stan Mahoney Youth Fishing Rodeo will cast off before the sun rises this Saturday at Barber Marina.

“We are very excited to expose children to our wonderful watershed through fishing,” said Leslie Gahagan, Environmental Manager for the City of Foley. “With all funds going to our educational programs, Wolf Bay Watershed continues to support educational efforts in the area."

The tournament, which is presented by Riviera Utilities and Wolf Bay Watershed Watch, runs from 6 a.m. to noon Saturday and features two categories — one for children ages three through nine years old, and a second for children between the ages of 10 and 16.

Sign in and registration is available on Oct. 23 from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the pre-check in meeting at Barber Marina.

Gahagan said she expects 75 young anglers to sign up and participate in this year’s event.

The tournament’s boundaries include all the waters of Wolf Bay, Arnica Bay, Bay La Launch and their tributaries between the Alabama Highway 59 Bridge in Gulf Shores and Ross Point in Josephine and Mill Point in Orange Beach.

All participants must be joined by an adult, who themselves must have a valid fishing license.

Only fish caught by the applicant are eligible. Parents may fish but all fish must be kept separate. Parents may help by coaching, tying, and baiting hooks.  They may assist by landing the fish by hand or net. Parents must not help set the hook or reel in fish.

After the last fish are collected at noon,  Champion Fish Trophies will be awarded to the top three angler’s in each age group that catch the heaviest fish of the following species:

—  Speckled Trout

—  Redfish

—  Bass

—  Flounder

—  Panfish (Panfish and Bream)

—  Sheephead

—  Catfish

—  Croaker or Spot

—  Open category

—  A Lunker trophy will be presented to the angler in both age groups that catches the heaviest finned fish, excluding sharks and stingrays. The Lunker trophy will not be awarded to the Master Fisherman, but to the next heaviest fish of another angler.

—  A Master Fisherman trophy will be awarded for the angler from each age group who catches the most total pounds of finned fish, excluding sharks and stingrays.

—  Only one trophy per angler per category.

Participants are encouraged to wear the tournament t-shirt while fishing in the tournament Saturday.

Additional information about the tournament can be found online at http://www.wolfbaywatershedwatch.org/

To get to Barber Marina, Take Highway 98 to Highway 95 South, approximately two miles east of Elberta, and follow the road signs to Fish Trap Road and Marina. Take a right on Fish Trap Road and go ½ mile to entrance of Barber Marina. Take a left, and the Marina is approximately 1.5 miles ahead.