FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy Sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) spent the day away from their usual tasks to relax with a day of fishing during the seventh annual Take a Hero Fishing Tournament at the Lauderdale Marina in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, during Fleet Week Port Everglades May 8, 2015.
The event split Service members onto several boats that went out to the ocean in hopes for finding the day’s winning fish.
“The purpose of this tournament is to engage the local fishing community, giving them an outlet to thank the troops for what they do,” said Kitty McGowan, the event’s coordinator.
Local boat owners who volunteered for the event took the time to show Service members the equipment, resources and tips needed for fishing off the coast of Florida.
“The community support for this event just blows me away,” said McGowen. “These captains are taking the day off of work, pay for the fuel, bait and food, in order to give troops the opportunity to experience what they love to do.”
At the end of the tournament, all the boats made their way back to the marina to weigh catches to see who wrangled the winning fish.
After the participants received food that was donated by members of the marina, first place was given to a team with a 27.2 pound tuna, but 22nd MEU Marines reeled in second place with half of a tuna. The Marines stated a shark took its share of their catch while it was on the line, and possibly their shot at first.
The first, second and third place teams were each rewarded with a $100 gift card.
“It gives me so much pride in our country to see the young Service members that are very well spoken, respectful and just overall amazing representatives of this country,” McGowen said. “It makes me proud to be an American.”