The 10th annual Craig White Memorial Fishing Tournament had its largest turnout ever Saturday. Forty teams paid to compete for prizes and bragging rights in several categories.
“More than 185 pounds of catfish were caught this year, and the group wiped out 200 hot dogs with all the fixings,” organizer Myrna Wood said.
After weighing their catches and having a meal, participants listened to two bands at Peabody Country Club clubhouse. NDN Burger bluegrass and Code Blue blues band played two-hour sets to keep the evening lively.
The Edwards brothers — Bruce, Danny, Gary, and Steve — from Texas and Oklahoma but formerly from Peabody attended and gave White’s brother, Todd Henderson, a neon catfish light they made in honor of the fishing tournament and Henderson’s 50th birthday.
The catfish is the same design as the logo that has been used for the fishing tournament.
Calvin Garoutte and Scott Henderson cleaned and fried a large meal of catfish for everyone to enjoy.
Venezuelan visitors Ingrid Rojas and her daughter Lisa also were guests for the day.
Those catching the biggest fish were Derrick and Mike Benson, 17.2 lbs.; Bob and Michelle Hartnagel, 13.9 lbs.; and Chris Ramsey and Steve Pinwell, 7.2 lbs.
Sierra Applegate and Alexandra Lewis caught the smallest fish. It weighed 0.44 lbs.
The teams with the highest total weights were Nolan Hurst and Garrett Weems, 41.4 lbs.; Bob and Michelle Hartnagel, 27.6 lbs.; and Rod Conquest and Brett O’Dell, 23.19 lbs.
Wood and Todd Henderson were pleased with the turnout and the success of the event.
“During the last nine years, 34 people who were down on their luck and in need of a hand have been helped with cash from the fund in Craig’s name,” Wood said. “Craig was famous for helping anyone who needed it — no questions asked. He’d have been glad to know his friends and family have carried on the tradition.”