RedSnook Kickoff Party raises more than $70,000 for hurricane rebuilding and recovery

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s RedSnook Catch & Release Charity Fishing Tournament Kickoff Party Oct. 21 raised more than $70,000 to benefit post Hurricane Ian recovery and building efforts.

A dedicated fundraiser for Hurricane Ian relief raised more than $45,000 in less than 10 minutes and will receive a match of $25,000 from the Collier Community Foundation. In total, the cash call from local anglers and guides and their friends and family raised more than $70,000. The funds will be given to the YMCA of Marco Island to provide support to residents and businesses on Isles of Capri as they recover from Hurricane Ian.

“Isles of Capri is a tiny peninsula in South Naples that is important to the area’s fishing and tourism industry,” said Rob Moher, president/CEO of the Conservancy, who led the bidding and inspired the crowd. “We’re ready to help people in our community who sustained such losses.”

Cindy Love, CEO of the YMCA of Collier County, joined Moher and thanked all the attendees for their generosity in helping their neighbors.

Due to impacts from Hurricane Ian, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida has postponed the annual RedSnook Catch and Release Charity Fishing Tournament to Dec. 3 and. 4.

Architect, Conservancy board member and RedSnook Chair Jon Kukk encouraged fellow anglers to join him in supporting the fight for clean water. “I’m just so proud of the support that the extended Redsnook community generated. In addition to ‘funding the fight for clean water’ we were able to help those in need.”

An online auction to support water quality projects is open for bidding through Dec. 4 and includes trips, fishing excursions, family activities, restaurants, tickets to attractions and more. For a $50 donation, get a chance to win one of three prizes, including a seven-day northern Canada fishing trip for two to Maria Lake Mini Lodge, a two-night stay with fishing trips and restaurant gift certificates at Hyatt House in Naples, or an Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing combo with rod and reel and textured fly line. Make your bid here at the RedSnook Auction site.

The annual catch and release fishing event is in its 15th year raising funds for the Conservancy’s Fight for Clean Water, working to protect our most valuable natural resource, our water. In the wake of Hurricane Ian, the Conservancy’s mission is as relevant as ever.

“This tournament has taken on increased importance following Hurricane Ian, which has wreaked havoc on our natural resources and water quality and will have significant impacts for some time to come,” said Moher. “The storm’s winds and excessive rain-washed organic matter and contaminants into streams and bays. Mangroves that were still recovering from damage from Hurricane Irma, which are essential to the health of our waterways, also took a significant hit from the storm.”

Registration for the tournament remains open through the rescheduled dates on Dec. 3 and 4, and the tournament’s Awards Ceremony will be Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m., at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, sponsored by Northern Trust.

The catch and release tournament will be a two-day event, fishing for the area’s most popular game fish: snook and redfish. Launch sites include Naples, Goodland and Chokoloskee. Registration is limited to 60 teams. Divisions include unguided and guided bait, fly, and unguided and guided artificial.

Team entry is $275 for one angler and $550 for two. For information, email redsnook@conservancy.org call 239-403-4200 or visit conservancy.org/events/redsnook/.

About the Conservancy of Southwest Florida:
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is a not-for-profit environmental protection organization with a 59-year history focused on the issues impacting the water, land, wildlife and future of Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. The Conservancy accomplishes this mission through the combined efforts of its experts in the areas of environmental science, policy, education and wildlife rehabilitation. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, world-class Nature Center and von Arx Wildlife Hospital are headquartered in Naples, Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, south of the Naples Zoo off Goodlette-Frank Road. Learn more about the Conservancy’s work and how to support the quality of life in Southwest Florida www.conservancy.org.