By Times Staff
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A striped bass fishing tournament to benefit the Open Door Pantry in Gloucester is set to take place this weekend.
The Leo Almeida Memorial North Shore Striped Bass Tournament is celebrating its seventh year this Labor Day weekend. It is the only tournament that combines the North Shore's fishing heritage with the fight against hunger on Cape Ann and in other local communities.
The tournament will be held Saturday through Monday. Prizes up to $500 will be awarded in various categories, including boat, shore/surf and for youth 15 and under. A raffle of dozens of prizes will also be held. Those who wish to donate to the pantries can enter and will also be eligible to win raffle prizes.
Entry fee is $15. Tickets are available at Winchester Fishing in Gloucester and at Fin and Feather in Essex. Ticket sales end Friday.
The Open Door Pantry on Emerson Avenue has been feeding local residents for over 25 years. The tournament will also benefit the People to People Food Pantry in Danvers and Our Neighbor's Table in Amesbury.
Leo Almeida was a lifelong North Shore resident whose commitment to public service was matched by his love of fishing. He died in 2003, shortly before the first North Shore Striped Bass Tournament that he organized. In the past seven years, the tournament has raised over $30,000 for food pantries in Gloucester, Danvers and Amesbury. More than 800 people have participated since the tournament began.
To enter or for more information, see www.northshorestriper.com or call Tournament Chairwoman Amy Almeida at 617-501-1659.
Material from a press release was used in this report.SFlb
