Young Life Beaufort

2nd Annual Fishing Derby

story by JENNIFER BROWN-CARPENTER

If you have ever spent any amount of time talking to Andrew Lancaster, the chances are that he has mentioned four things: his sweet wife, Sarah, and baby boy, Ward; his dog, Red; his passion for Young Life and the kids that he is reaching through the ministry; and fishing. Andrew loves to fish, and he loves his job as the Beaufort Young Life area director. He, along with his wife, Sarah, who is the Young Lives coordinator, Chas Martin (staff associate), and Kimani Brown-Carpenter (missions staff) are always looking for ways to raise money to take kids to camp during the summer. These Young Life camp trips are “the best week” of these kids’ lives. While this summer is a little different due to COVID-19, typically, these weeks look like games, horseback riding, hiking, singing, hearing messages from amazing speakers, and building relationships that will last for years to come. For most of the kids, it is an opportunity to get away from the daily grind and experience Jesus in a new light, something they look forward to all year long.

Camps cost money. Young Life camps are some of the best in the nation, and this means that some kids need fundraising help as they plan their summer camp trips. Young Life provides lots of fundraising opportunities for the kids, from babysitting to yard work.

Fundraising is not-at-all foreign to Young Life staff members. They are always looking for new ways to approach it—ways that will be fun and different but also effective in the community. This past fall, Andrew went fishing with Jeff Miller (Young Life committee board). They started tossing around an idea: What about putting on a fishing tournament to raise money to send kids to camp? Other fishing tournaments take place in Beaufort and the surrounding area, but most of them are for-profit. And there are other fundraisers that Young Life organizes, but none of them had ever been like this one.

So, Andrew took two of his passions and combined them. Jeff Miller started talking to Billy Powell, who headed up the fishing tournament committee last year. These two men, along with Andrew, Chas, Kimani, Steve Price, Taylor Horton, Mike Buckingham, and Michele Tanis from Beaufort Boat & Dock Supply, became the backbone of the very first Young Life Fishing Derby.

Last year on November 1st, the captain’s meeting was held. It was a Friday night at Beaufort Boat & Dock Supply. Participants were able to register online beforehand but also could register that night during the meeting. That night, the participants were given their buckets that held their numbers, the rules, and some fun, free stuff like koozies, key chains from Beaufort Boat & Dock Supply, pens, etc. They were also able to put in for the Calcutta if they were interested.

Saturday morning they were able to start fishing at sunrise, and weigh-in took place at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club between 3 and 5 p.m. You had to be there by 4:59 p.m. to have your fish counted and weighed. If you showed up a minute later, you were disqualified. After the fish had been weighed and the winners announced, there was a raffle and dinner, provided by Craig Reaves at Sea Eagle Market.

This year they are hoping to do things a little differently. This year’s tournament will be held October 2nd and 3rd. (If this changes, it will be posted on the fishing derby website!) They’re planning to do a fish fry on Friday night during the captain’s meeting. Everything besides the prize money being awarded will take place on Friday evening as well, including the raffle and giveaways.

Last year there was an in-shore and off-shore category in the Young Life Fishing Derby. This year, they are doing seven different species: redfish, trout, flounder, black drum, sheepshead, king mackerel, and Spanish mackerel. And you can still choose to fish in-shore or off-shore.

There is a $200 entry fee to participate in the tournament. You can choose your team, and it is up to the captain to distribute the prize money. There is no limit on the number of people that can be on one boat. Last year, a total of $10,000 in prizes was awarded to off-shore and on-shore participants: $3,000 to first place, $1,250 to second place, and $750 to third place, in both categories. They also gave away a nice cooler, a Penn rod and reel, fishing tackle, gift certificates to excellent restaurants around town, and a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle.

Thirty-two boats entered last year’s tournament, and they are hoping to double that number this year. You can register online at ylfishingderby.com and also see video highlights and sponsors from last year’s tournament. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or have questions about registering, you can reach out to Andrew at andrewlancasteryl@gmail.com or Thomas Pendarvis, who is heading up the committee this year. They are still working on solidifying details for this year’s sponsorships but will have more information available on the tournament websites as they become available.

Southern Tree Services of Beaufort is the captain’s meeting sponsor this year and one of the title sponsors for the tournament.

If you love the kids in this community and also love fishing, then you need to participate in the 2nd Annual Young Life Fishing Derby. There is no better way to spend a Saturday in Beaufort than on the river. And you’ll feel good while you are doing it, knowing you are impacting the next generation. Reach out to Andrew or anyone you know on the Young Life staff or committee board for more details! And start practicing—maybe you can take home some of that prize money this year!