Bass Tournament coming up in May

Enter now to win a 2024 Bullet bass boat and register for the 35th Annual Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament. The event, presented by Miller Electric and W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractors, Inc., benefits Wolfson Children’s Terry Heart Institute.

Featured events (all at Palatka City Docks):

• Thursday, May 16: Lads & Lasses Tournament (one male, one female boater).
• Friday, May 17: VIP & Friends Tournament (sponsor boats pre-fish).
• Saturday, May 18: 35th Annual Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament.

Register online at https://giving.baptistjax.com/event/2024-wolfson-childrens-bass-tournament/e487694 any time before noon May 14. In-person registrations will take place at the Palatka City Docks from 4 a.m. to safe light the morning of May 16 and May 17 and from 3 a.m. to safe light the morning of Saturday’s tournament. Boats launch at safe light. The Palatka City Docks are located at 319 River St., Palatka.

Tournament schedule:

• Thursday, May 16: Weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. Lads & Lasses winners announced.
• Friday, May 17: Weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. VIP & Friends winners announced.
• Saturday, May 18: Weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. Tournament winners announced.

Weigh-ins continue in 15-minute increments, staggered by boat number. After weigh-in, winners are brought to the stage for awards and cash prizes.

The highlights:

• More than $48,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to competitors from across the Southeast.
• For a suggested donation of $20, anyone may enter a drawing for a chance to win a 21-foot 2024 Bullet Boat model 21XRS with a trailer, courtesy of Bullet Boats, valued at $97,000 (motor to be included). All proceeds from the drawing will help fund new technology for the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Heart Institute at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. To enter the bass boat drawing, go to wolfsonbasstournament.com. Ticket sales close at 9 a.m. May 31. (Date and time are subject to change.)
• This year’s bass boat drawing will be held on June 1. (Date and time are subject to change.)
• Now in its 35th year, the Wolfson Children's Bass Tournament is one of the largest and longest-running bass fishing tournaments in Florida.
• Since the first tournament in 1989, the event has raised more than $7 million for Wolfson Children’s and the patients treated there.

Tournament history:

In 1989, the Plant Facilities Department of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, along with several others, organized the Bass Tournament as a way to fund capital improvements and purchase the latest medical technology for Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Today, the tournament welcomes thousands of anglers during the three-day event, which has raised millions for specialized treatments and lifesaving equipment.

To register for the Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass tournament, enter the bass boat drawing or donate to the hospital’s mission, go to wolfsonbasstournament.com.