Jason Hawkins

Five years ago, a young fishing tournament was planted in Beaufort, NC. There were hands involved in planting this seed. Captain Tred Barta, noted angler and personality, readied the soil. Tournament director, Cynthia Barber, groomed the soil. And the members of the original board of directors, a carefully selected group, they too, nurtured and provided and grew this seed. And while the planting of an idea soon grew and from an initial entry of 100 boats grew to a record of 135 boats in 2006, something else grew from this seed. What grew is beyond the label of a fishing tournament, even though this is the 5th Annual Barta Billfish Tournament, from the docks of Beaufort, opportunity grew. We all come to Beaufort to fish. We prepare baits and boats and plans and hooks and we study charts and graphs and satellite images and weather and we apply sunscreen and buy chicken and cookies and ice, lots of ice, there is something else we do in Beaufort, we provide opportunity to an areas future, in the Boys & Girls Club of Coastal Carolina. At no time in the history of this tournament, now five years young, and in the history of the Boys & Girls Club of Coastal Carolina, is opportunity more important. Our nation, our state, our region, and even the historic streets of Beaufort are affected this summer by economic health that is not healthy. Whether you scale back fishing fifteen tournaments to twelve, because of the cost of diesel, or you trade an 8-cylinder for a hybrid, we are all affected by today’s economy. This affect, really affects us all, including and perhaps more concerning, those who benefit from the Boys & Girls Club.

In 2004, I stood in a hot gymnasium in Beaufort, stuffing sea bags that would be given to those inaugural participants of the Barta tournament. I was surrounded by strangers, kids, and it was hot, really hot. What I took from the long line of kids stuffing bags, to give to anglers, is that even though the environment was hot and uncomfortable and certainly not fun by modern standards, these kids saw an opportunity to help themselves by helping those who would in turn help them.

I imagine there are kids today in that same gymnasium. I speculate there are kids whose families are struggling to maintain gas in a vehicle, food on the table, and cool air from vents at home. The struggle these kids and their families endure are similar to all of us. Whether you arrive in Beaufort via a 70-foot fishing yacht or a $700 early 90’s Nissan, there is an opportunity to help. In recent years, the tournament has prided itself in the ability to raise funds and help kids in a hot, sweaty gym. These kids do not know who owns the boats. Many will never feel the tug of a wahoo or see a billfish. Some will never ride a boat. But, today’s kids in a hot gym are the future for this coastal community. This is the same coastal community that is affected by a yielding tourism and rising gas prices and food prices. This is the same community that offers so much for anglers, even before they leave for sea. This community, this year, in spite of economic failure and hardship, needs you and me and each other, to come to Beaufort and participate. I don’t know the kids that benefit from the week in July, known as Barta. Some, I hope have left the gym and are beginning a life in school or a career. Still, I wonder if we do not raise and contribute and invest, if this deserving community of kids, will have the same opportunities many of us had in life.

This event is a fishing tournament. There will be nice trophies awarded to those participants for dolphin, wahoo, and billfish release. Some boats fishing in the NC Governor’s Cup will receive needed points as they chase this year’s trophy. Still, from the first sign of the tournament the third week of July, from the raising of tents to the sound of Tred’s voice echoing throughout the docks, opportunity exists. This may not be the year you and your family or team can fish the Barta. However, this may be the most important year for you and your family and team, to fish the Barta.

This is a tournament.

However, this is an opportunity.

I stood with opportunity in 2004, packing sea bags in a hot gym. These kids need you to fish. More importantly, they need an opportunity.

Jason Hawkins, Media Director
hawkinsoutdoors@msn.com