Oregon Tuna Classic: Go or No Go?
Waves may quell part of tuna event
While it’ll still be a good time raising money for a good cause, the Oregon Tuna Classic might not reel in much tuna this year.
Charleston will host the food bank fishing fundraiser for the second year in a row this Saturday, but organizers fear heavy seas might not permit the actual fishing part.
“It’s a lot of fun, and we get to help out a good cause,” Port Captain Jim Pex said. “A lot of families come, so it’s a pretty good crowd.”
Between wind, waves and swell heights, forecasters are predicting 12-foot waves. If the waves are more than 10 feet, the fishing portion of the event will be canceled, Pex said. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will release the official weather update Thursday around 3 p.m.
“We want to encourage people to still come even if boats can’t go out,” Pex said.
There still will be plenty to do at the marina with the 20th annual Seafood Festival going on all weekend.
If weather does permit, the tournament will begin with a 6 a.m. shotgun. Boats must return by 4 p.m. The official weigh-in will be from 2 to 4 p.m. , followed by the awards dinner at The Mill Casino-Hotel in North Bend at 6 p.m.
The Tuna Classic is a charity event to raise money for local food banks. Fishermen compete to see which boat can bring in the heaviest albacore, and then donate the catch to the Oregon Food Bank.
First place is awarded $3,000, second place $2,000 and third place $1,000. And don’t worry, if fishermen aren’t able to head offshore due to weather, they will still have a shot at the prize money.
Every team will receive a raffle ticket at the banquet and by the end of the night up to $20,000 in fishing gear will be handed out.
Friends and family are also invited to the steak dinner for $12 a ticket.
So far, 67 teams are registered up from last year’s 62. The late registration deadline is midnight tonight with a $350 fee.
Last year’s contestants reeled in 7,300 pounds of tuna and an overall cash contribution of $25,000.
There are four tournaments along the coast, stopping also in Garibaldi and Ilwaco, Wash. Newport held its first Tuna Classic in July, after calling it off for the previous three years because of unsafe ocean conditions
