Head to Gateway to catch your winnings

TONAWANDA - On Saturday, Sept. 15 and Sunday, Sept. 16, in The Gateway Harbor, the catch of the day could be yours. The second annual “Hooked on the Tonawandas Tagged Fishing Tournament” will take place giving fisherman a chance to catch a variety of tagged fish with cash prizes ranging from $25 to $1,000 dollars.

“It’s a fun thing because there’s gonna be 100 fish (tagged) out there,” said Kurt Alverson, a member of the Tonawandas Gateway Harbor Corporation. “It’s not just for expert fisherman to try to claim a prize.”

He said they are all different species so people can come and catch a perch, bullhead, carp, bass or a northern pike, as some of the possible fish.

“The attempt is to put another event into Gateway Park in the Tonawandas and build up the repertoire of different activities,” said Alverson. “Fishing is a brand new area for us to look at and we had pretty good success last year with about 150 fishermen.”

The idea stemmed from a tournament that takes place in Wellsville, NY that Alverson said has taken place over the last 17 or 18 years. They get more than 2,000 people to come and participate for their weekend of fishing. Alverson hopes that one day their event will grow as large as the Wellsville tournament.

The money from the event will be split to go into four different charities. The Boys and Girls Club of the Tonawandas, The Gateway Harbor, The Elks Club, and the Gastown Sportsman club, which Alverson said puts a lot of effort into making this event work.

Children 15 years old and under who are not registered can fish for free and win other non-cash prizes.

The area for the tournament will take place from the Niagara River to Exolon Street in the City of Tonawanda and from Service Drive to the Webster Street Bridge in North Tonawanda.

Participants can register until Sept. 16, those who enter can fish one or both days. You can register online at http://fishgatewayharbor.net/, at the event, or at participating bait and tackle shops. Bait and tackle will be available near the registration tent.

The entry fee is $20 and includes a lunch ticket.