By Cullen Lea
Intern
Restoring the Cape Fear River’s striped bass fishery is but one ambition of StriperFest. During the weekend of Jan. 16-17 the Cape Fear River Watch launches its seventh annual festival to help raise awareness and funding for the nonprofit’s revolving restoration efforts.
Frank Yelverton, Cape Fear River Watch associate director, said the festival includes a banquet and auction, education day and fishing tournament.
“This is the CFRW’s biggest fundraising event of the year that directly benefits our cause,” Yelverton said.
Festivities kick off with the banquet and auction at the Coastline Convention Center on Friday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $50 per person or $350 for a table of eight and will include a catered dinner and entry into the live auction. Bid items include vacation getaways, surfing lessons, art pieces, tote bags, fishing rods and more.
“Local businesses do a great job of helping us raise awareness for our mission,” Yelverton said. “We’ve had restaurants donate gift cards and shops supply paddleboards and kayaks for our raffle.”
The itinerary for Saturday, Jan. 17 includes workshops and activities, chiefly the tag and release Striped Bass Fishing Tournament starting at 9 a.m. At 10 a.m. the Coastline Convention Center will provide the Fisheries Science Forum, showcasing the value of tracking and tagging fish as well as restoring their populations in the Cape Fear River.
StriperFest will host all ages with its free Family Fun Community Education Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children can build models of fish found in the Cape Fear River, learn about fishing rods and observe how marine biologists tag fish to monitor their migration. In addition, visitors may participate in arts and crafts activities, such as designing their own fish on a stick and learn Gyotaku, the Japanese art of fish printing.
“Education is an integral part of this festival,” Yelverton said. “It’s important we inform people and their children about the value of the river economically as well its water quality and environmental importance.”
An event new to the 2015 festival includes touring the research craft RV Cape Hatteras. Those who wish to witness the fishing and discover the Cape Fear River will have two opportunities aboard The Wilmington at 12:30 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. The trips will last approximately 45 minutes.
“Overall this is a fun event for the entire family,” Yelverton said. “From our banquet on Friday to the tournament and education day on Saturday, there’s something to do for everyone.”
The event will conclude at 4 p.m. Jan. 17 with the announcement of the tag and release tournament winners. Prizes and bragging rights include the most fish tagged and the biggest striper caught.
To purchase tickets and find more information, visit www.capefearriverwatch.org
