Nineteenth Annual Tappahannock
Rotary Croaker Fishing Tournament

SATURDAY JUNE 24, 2023 TOURNAMENT

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Big Croaker 2022 Photo Gallery on FaceBook

The Annual Big Croaker Fishing Tournament on Saturday, June 11. $4,500 in prizes were awarded to contestants. Roddy Ashley of Lovingston, VA,who won the top prize for his croaker that was a little over a half pound and was awarded $2,000; Keats Wade of Richmond, VA, won second prize of $1,000; and BA Nguyen of Springfield, VA, won third prize of $500. Youth Division winners were Mason Botkin who won $300 for his croaker and Noah Gordon who won second prize of $200.

Blakley Smith and his daughter, Ellie, caught a 31 pound catfish and were awarded top Catfish prize of $500. The event was for the first time based at the Tappahannock Moose Lodge where fish were weighed, prizes awarded and hot dogs, hamburgers provided by the Moose Lodge, were enjoyed by participants. Carl Strock, Rotary Club President, awarded the checks.

Big Croaker 2019 Photo Gallery on FaceBook (Event cancelled in 2020 & 2021)

On Saturday, May 18, 90 boats competed in the Tappahannock Rotary Club’s annual Big Croaker Fishing Tournament.

#1 David Vance of Fort Loudon, PA, won $2,000 in cash prizes for his croaker of .65 pounds (approximately 10.4 ounces), #2 James Fields of Milford, VA, won $1,000 for the second place croaker, #3 Rod Ashley of Lovingston, VA, won $500 for third place. Weighmaster Jim Wawner (far left) and Croaker Tournament Chairman Joe Wolfinger (second from right).

Tappahannock Rotary Youth Division winners: Ryan Pack ($300 first place), Cole Heineman, ($200 second place); Dan Kurdziel ($100 third place).

Big Croaker 2018 Photo Gallery on FaceBook

The 2018 tournament 81 boats competed in the Big Croaker Tournament today run out of Garretts Marina. Ba Nguyen who has won four times over the last few years won first prize with a Croaker weighing 1.05 lbs! Caught near the pylons using shrimp. Ba won first prize of $1500 plus the early bird bonus of $500. Youth angler on Ba Nguyen’s boat, won second prize in the youth category for another $200.

Check for first prize is presented by (left) Carl Strock - Tappahannock Rotary President), Hong Nguyen, Ba’s son Khang Nguyen who won second prize in the youth division, Ba Nguyen (center), My Ho and Loc Truong all of Springfield VA with his family and (right) Jim Wawner Tournament Weigh-Master. Not pictured Jay Brimmer, Tournament Chair.

Big Croaker 2017 Photo Gallery on FaceBook

The 2017 tournament winners are: First prize: Jeff Robinson – a returning participant in the tournament from Mechanicsville, VA with a 1.35 lb croaker won $1,500 – his croaker was caught near Downing Bridge using crab bait; second place: Ba Nguyen of Springfield VA with a 1.20 lb croaker won $1,000; third place: Danny Greene of Clover VA with a 1.20 lb croaker won $500. Fourth place: Samuel Harris of Fredericksburg VA brought in a 1.20 lb croaker and fifth place: Son Nguyen of Springfield VA caught a 1.20 lb croaker. Jeff Robinson was also the major winner of several cash prizes for the tournament within a tournament. Contestants with tied weight winning croakers are ranked according to earliest entry date.

2017 Youth Angler winner under 16 Kevin Nguyen of Springfield VA with a 1.05 lb croaker won $300. Second place was Kyle Selak of Fannetsburg PA who caught a 1.00 lb croaker winning $200, and third place was Leo Nguyen of Springfield VA also with a 1.00 lb croaker wins $100. Jonathan Morris won the special prize of a fishing rod for fourth place.

• Tappahannock Rotary Club - Virginia 22560 •

• Rotary District 7610 • Rotary International •