Last year, 41 two-person teams hauled in an amazing 36,282 pounds of carp from the banks of the Seneca River. Baldwinsville’s local planning committee, along with the Oklahoma-based CARP Tournament Series (CARPTS, formerly ACS Tournaments), is preparing for an even larger participation and poundage in the 50-hour event.
Tournament registrations already include anglers from the all across the US and several foreign countries including England, Poland, Canada, Romania, Bosnia and Hungary. There’s a $10,000 prize pool, plus special awards for local anglers. If a registered team lives within 30 miles of the tournament’s Red Mill Inn headquarters, they can reel in an additional $1,000 in cash and prizes. In addition, local anglers are eligible for a chance to hook private instruction time with world-class carp angler David Moore, tournament director and co-founder of the American Carp Society.
With the success of the previous two years, the village is preparing for an influx of competitors, their families, volunteer workers, spectators and cash. At the Shamballa Café, you can smell the aroma of roasted coffee beans. Owner Emmet Simpson’s Carpblend coffee historically increases in sales during each tournament.
“Anticipating the event and then hearing all those foreign accents really create excitement in our community,” Simpson said. “The anglers are great guests.”
Throughout the week of May 10, the Baldwinsville library will display carp tackle and artwork alongside aquariums provided by Syracuse University Environmental Science and Forestry students. At 7 p.m. Monday May 11 in the library’s community room, residents will have a chance to chat with CARPTS’ David Moore.
Public opening ceremonies, complete with parade, take place on Paper Mill Island Wednesday May 13, and the 50-hours of angling continues from early Thursday to Saturday morning.
“Everyone should get out there and see how this thing works,” said Baldwinsville resident Alice Cummings. “I thought this was just another fishing derby until I saw what these men and women experience.”
Spectators are encouraged at Seneca River viewing areas marked by large carp-shaped road signs. When asked if she’d return this year.
“Oh, yes,” Alice said. “And I’m bringing along people from Cortland.”
CARPTS provides marshal training at 6 p.m. on May 12 at the Red Mill Inn, enabling volunteers to help weigh the catch. Purchase raffle tickets at the Baldwinsville Farmer’s Co-op or Chamber office to win a 2009 Kawasaki Prairie 360 or to receive $100 by coming closest to guessing the total tournament weight of carp recorded this year.
Carp may be bottom feeders known by many for their not-so-delicate cuisine. Never-the-less, the Baldwinsville community continues to spin this so-called garbage fish into their gold during the CARP Tournament Series Northeast Regional, presented by the Red Mill Inn.
For tournament details, raffle info and event schedule, visit carptournamentseries.com or contact the local chamber office at 638-0050 or e-mail bchamber07@verizon.net.
Photo by carpdaddy.com
Ranking 16th overall, Baldwinsville mayor Joe Saraceni (left) and his brother Tony, pictured with Seneca River carp the duo caught, won the local team award for largest catch.
