HOFNOD Fishing Event – 2025
(June 18, 2025)

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Event Description

Mac, the VP of the Virginia Beach Bluewater Fishing Club (VBBFC), starts planning for the NEXT year’s VBBF HOF-NOD Summer Youth Events in June.  There is a lot that goes into coordinating 2 fishing events that benefit 300+ local youth each year!  This includes securing the LETA location, boats, transportation, lunch/dinner/snacks/beverages, recruiting volunteers, shirts, trophies, collaboration with school guidance counselors…etc! Meanwhile, Judy and Frank work diligently with their contacts to solicit the tremendous amount of donations required to fund these 2 events.  Behind the scenes, the VBBFC board members also do their best to support the VBBFC and VBBF HOF-NOD through member events and planning of the Annual Oyster Roast for additional funds to support the youth events.  It is all a team effort with volunteers trying to make it a fun and rewarding experience for all.

On the day of the events, the numerous volunteers are excited to welcome the kids with wrist bands and custom event shirts as their parents drop them off for the full day.  Their morning consists of FUN educational presentations and multiple hands-on workshops focusing on safety, marine preservation, identification, basic fishing skills, knot-tying, etc. After enjoying their lunch, the children and volunteers are transported to 1 of the 3 Head Boats where the captain and mates are eagerly awaiting to depart to their fishing spots!  The kids spend the rest of the afternoon fishing (and smiling) before returning to LETA for a meal of burgers and hot dogs.  It all ends with an awards ceremony for various categories before departure.

A big THANK YOU to our Donors, the Volunteers, the VBBFC Members, the Sheriff’s Department, VB Law Enforcement, Rudee Tours, the bus drivers, the participants, their parents/guardians, the guidance counselors, etc!!  We could not do it without YOU!

EVENT RECAP

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Youth Fishing Event # 1 “Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs”

• 112 Children (146 Registered; 34 No Shows ☹)
• Thank you to 73 total volunteers, with 23 of those from VBSO!
• 310 fish were caught, totaling 2,223 inches!

Head Boat 1- Angler

• 51 Kids
• Total Fish: 184
• Total Inches: 1,300.50
• Largest Fish:  30″ Stingray
• Most Unique Fish:  10″ Bluefish
• Most Fish (5 kids)
  1. 10 fish totaling 77 inches
  2. 10 fish totaling 73 inches
  3. 10 fish totaling 64 inches
  4. 10 fish totaling 64 inches
  5. 9 fish

Head Boat 2- Mariner

• 36 Kids
• Total Fish: 61
• Total Inches: 440
• Largest Fish:  9”
• Most Unique Fish:  Trout
• Most Fish (5 kids)
  1. 8 fish
  2. 7 fish
  3. 5 fish
  4. 4 fish
  5. 4 fish

Head Boat 3- Whaler

• 25 Kids
• Total Fish: 65
• Total Inches: 482.5
• Largest Fish:  10”
• Most Unique Fish:  NA
• Most Fish (5 kids)
  1. 6 fish
  2. 5fish
  3. 4 fish
  4. 4 fish
  5. 4 fish