There are 12 spots left in the King Kat Fishing tournament, which will return to St. Charles Parish again this year on Sept. 20-21. Teams must register before 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19 and pay the $300 registration fee, according to Scott Peavy, a tournament official.
The tournament also includes a kids’ fishing rodeo Sept. 21 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Bonnet Carre Spillway. It is free to participate in the event, and registration will take place on-site on Saturday. The kids fishing rodeo is a family-friendly event for children ages 15 and under.
Kids should bring their own fishing equipment, but there will be a team there to help kids fish. Kids who participate will receive some free items, including things like Bibles, rods, reels, candy, tackleboxes, and T-shirts, according to Peavy.
“It’s an opportunity for us to get the kids outdoors, away from the video game,” Peavy said. “I tell a lot of people that God’s great outdoors is the greatest pharmacy that’s ever been made.”
All participants in King Kids events will be entered into a scholarship drawing at the end of the year. Six kids will receive a $1,000 scholarship toward a college or trade school upon their enrollment.
There are currently 38 teams registered for the King Kat tournament this weekend, according to Peavy. Last year, seven teams competed. The tournament is open to both experienced anglers and newcomers. Anglers will fish in the Lac Des Allemands and the Mississippi River from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the days of the tournament.
Peavy said the lower end of the Mississippi River is a special destination for the tournament.
“It’s one of the most nutrient rich fisheries in the world,” he said. “When you combine that with the Gulf of Mexico and start talking about blue catfish, that goes hand in hand. Blue catfish love to be close to a saltwater line.”
The team who catches the biggest fish will win $1,000. The second biggest fish will earn its team $500. Teams who place in the top five will also win a cash payout. Peavy said 100 percent of the entry fees are divided among the top five teams.
Peavy said St. Charles Parish and the parish’s parks and recreation department is his favorite group to work with.
“[St. Charles Parish] has always been one of our favorite destinations because of the amount of support we get, the amount of help we get from the locals and the different [parish] departments,” Peavy said. “We don’t have that kind of cooperation everywhere else.”
The King Kat is a national catfish fishing tournament, with tournament sites in North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, and other states. Louisiana’s River Parishes hosts the King Kat Tournament Trail and King Kids Fishing Rodeo in partnership with St. Charles Parish Parks & Recreation, St. Charles Parish Economic Development, and US Army Corps of Engineers, according to Denise Burrell, executive director of the River Parishes Tourist Commission.
Burrell said spectators are encouraged to cheer on their favorite anglers and enjoy a fun-filled weekend along the Mississippi River.
“The King Kat Tournament is more than just a competition,” Burrell said. “It’s a celebration of the River Parishes’ rich fishing heritage and a great way to bring the community and our visitors together to enjoy our delicious local cuisine, live music, and family-friendly activities throughout the weekend.”
She said the tournament benefits the community by boosting local tourism and showcasing the parish’s unique culture.
“The events bring visitors from far and near, enhancing local businesses and creating opportunities for community interaction,” she said.
