Volunteer marshal training held Tuesday May 11
Working with CARP Tournament Series, Baldwinsville is rolling out the red carpet to welcome spectators, volunteers and anglers to the fourth annual NE Regionals international carp angling tournament held May 12 to 15. “Everywhere I go, folks are fascinated that we attract international anglers. They want to know how many teams and from where they will come,” said Baldwinsville Mayor Joseph Saraceni. With more than 49 tons of carp caught and released during the three previous tournaments, Baldwinsville is world-famous for its number of healthy, hard-fighting fish. The concentration of carp in the Seneca River makes this 50-hour, two-person team event one of skill and endurance. Organizers anticipate more than 40 two-person teams this year with anglers representing the USA, England, Canada and Poland already registered to take on the challenge. Fishing from pre-determined sites along the river’s shoreline, anglers will begin the catch-and-release competition at 9 a.m. Thursday May 13 and continue through 11 a.m. Saturday May 15. Competitors will reel in more than $10,000 in cash and prizes earned for overall total weight, big four fish and single largest fish. Local participants, teams with at least one angler’s permanent residence within 30 miles of The Red Mill Inn, have an additional chance to collect $400 in cash plus in-kind prizes. For spectators, organizers have arranged viewing sites at Onondaga Park near the Wegmans Good Dog Park and Mud Lock and at Lions Community Park in the village. Large green and blue carp tournament signs will mark these locations, and maps are available at The Red Mill Inn, tournament headquarters. Opening ceremonies will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday May 12 on Paper Mill Island with a parade led by bagpipers and international Rotary students. Want to do more than watch? Become a volunteer marshal like Bob Burkard of Camillus, who will help weigh catches. The men and women who marshal choose their own schedules and have the opportunity to meet individuals from all over the world. “The people you meet are very interesting,” Burkard said. “This will be my fourth year, and I can’t wait to marshal again.” Orientation for weigh marshals will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday May 11 at The Red Mill Inn.
The tournament is supported by the Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau, Onondaga County Parks, Greater Baldwinsville Economic Development Agency and the Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce. In addition, local businesses including Alliance Bank, JGB Properties, Fortino & Son Electric, Ward Steel, The Ironworks, Parsons-McKenna Construction, Remlap Construction and All Seasons Mechanical have jumped on board with financial support. For more information, call The Red Mill Inn at 635-4871, 391-4629 or visit cnycarp.com. Tournament and registration information, fishing site locations as well as pictures from previous CARP Tournament Series NE Regionals are available at carptournamentseries.com. Baldwinsville carp tournament planning committee members (from left) Jim McKenna, Jake McKenna, Mary Crego, Liz Bowers and Tony Saraceni stand before the lottery carp poster depicting the $200 in scratch-off tickets to be raffled at this year’s event.