OUTDOORS

Fishing tourney at AJ’s to benefit Ronald McDonald House

Special to The Log

The event, which was held behind the Elks Lodge on Okaloosa Island last year, will be moving to the Rodeo weigh-in station behind AJ's Seafood & Oyster Bar on the harbor in Destin. Here, Weighmaster Jim Roberson weighs in a red snapper at last year's event.

The third annual Big Mac Classic Fishing Tournament is set for Sept. 27-29 to benefit Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida.

The event will be at the Destin Fishing Rodeo’s weigh station behind AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar on Destin harbor. The event benefits the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola, which provides a home away from home for families with a hospitalized child.

A live auction is planned at 6 p.m. during the captain’s meeting and dinner Sept. 27. Free kids’ events are set for Sept. 28, with silent auctions and raffles all weekend. Weigh-ins will take place Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

First prize for the largest king mackerel is $5,000. Other cash awards will be paid for dolphin, barracuda, amberjack and wahoo.

Boat entry is $200 if paid online by Sept. 15 or $250 afterward. There are Calcutta levels for amberjack and king mackerel. There also is a bonus aggregate prize for king mackerel.

People also can purchase a $5 raffle ticket for a yellow 2005 Ford Mustang and a 2013 Craigcat Elite two-person watercraft. The drawing will be Nov. 3 during the awards banquet for the Destin Fishing Rodeo.

The Big Mac Classic also includes the free Cane Pole Classic fishing tournament for children 12 and younger from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 28. Ronald McDonald will be the celebrity weighmaster.

To see photos of past tournaments or for more information on participation, donations, sponsorships or entries, visit facebook/bigmacfishing or the website bigmacfishing.com, or email info@bigmacfishing.com. People also can call Mike Wright at 850-259-6819 or Jerry Andrews at 850-259-3158.