CCA STAR kicks off

More than $500,000 in prizes up for grabs in coastal event

The 2014 Coastal Conservation Association STAR tournament begins on Memorial Day weekend, and this year’s even has been expanded with two new Mississippi divisions to offer even more chances to win.

This is the 18th year of the event, which offers more than $500,000 in prizes. Competition continues through Labor Day.

You must be a member of CCA to participate, and the cost to enter the tournament is $25.

Of course, the most-coveted catches come in the tagged redfish division. The first CCA-tagged tagged redfish caught wins the angler a Chevy Silverado. The next nine tagged reds caught win each angler a NauticStar rigged out with a 150-horsepower Mercury.

Mississippi divisions and the associated prizes are:

• Speckled trout — heaviest fish wins an 18-foot Blue Wave boat with a 90-horsepower Mercury outboard and trailer

• Flounder — heaviest fish wins a $1,000 Academy Sports gift card

• Sheepshead — heaviest fish wins $1,000 Academy gift card

• Youth (17 years and younger) — trout or flounder, entries to be included in drawing for a 14-foot Cajun Outboard boat with a 15-horsepower Mercury.

Entrants also are eligible to fish the Louisiana divisions:

• Speckled trout (four divisions) — the heaviest fish overall wins a NauticStar boat rigged with a 150-horse Mercury. The next three heaviest fish (one in each division) win NauticStar boats with 90-horsepower outboards.

• Mangrove snapper —heaviest fish wins a $5,000 offshore tackle package.

• Cobia — heaviest fish wins a $5,000 outdoor tackle package.

• Dorado — heaviest fish wins a $5,000 offshore tackle package.

• Red snapper (open only during the federal season) — heaviest fish wins a $5,000 offshore tackle package.

• Fly fishing (east and west regions) — the heaviest trout in each division wins $1,500 Academy gift card.

• Kayak (four divisions)— heaviest trout in each division wins a Hobie Outback.

• Calcasieu Calcutta — heaviest speckled trout caught, weighed at official weigh station and released alive wins a $500 Academy gift card.

• Sheepshead (east and west regions) — heaviest fish in each division wins a $1,500 Academy gift card

• Flounder — heaviest fish wins a 16-foot Weldbilt boat with a 40-horsepower outboard.

• Ladies only — heaviest speckled trout wins a $2,500 travel voucher.

Youth (17 years old and younger) — speckled trout and flounder, with all entrants included in random drawing to win a 14-foot Cajun Outboard boat with a 15-horse Mercury.

As always, youth fish free courtesy of Academy Sports.

Log onto www.ccamississippi.org/about-star.asp for full details and registration information.