Washington Tuna Classic in Westport a big draw for veterans, families

By Dan Hammock • August 5, 2021 1:30 am
DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD The Mission Outdoors Washington Tuna Classic returns to Westport Aug. 13-14. The 2020 event was a success, despite the ongoing pandemic, as dozens of veterans and their families enjoyed fishing, Westport hospitality and tournament swag.
DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD The Mission Outdoors Washington Tuna Classic returns to Westport Aug. 13-14. The 2020 event was a success, despite the ongoing pandemic, as dozens of veterans and their families enjoyed fishing, Westport hospitality and tournament swag.

The 13th annual Mission Outdoors Washington Tuna Classic returns to Westport on Aug. 13-14, bringing veterans and their families from all over the region to share stories, catch albacore tuna for cash prizes, and donate much of their catch to local food banks.

Westport Marina General Manager Molly Bold previewed the event to Port of Grays Harbor commissioners on Tuesday with information from Mission Outdoors Executive Director Shannan Hansen.

“So far 25 boats are registered, with much more planning if tuna come in closer,” according to Hansen. “Right now, we are getting reports of tuna 60 miles offshore,” bringing them close to being in range for single day fishing trips.

Bold said the Tuna Classic event is “probably our busiest weekend of the entire year” at the marina. A total of 60 veteran families will be hosted at American Sunset RV. Hansen said numerous vessels are donating trips to the veterans.

“We are thankful the boats fishing the Tuna Classic have stepped up to take so many this year,” said Hansen.

The derby kicks off with Big Fish Friday, where teams that pay the $100 entry fee and bring in the largest fish of the day get 50% of the total pot.

Saturday is a full day of tuna fishing and fellowship. The teams fish in hopes of landing the heaviest five albacore during tournament hours — the winning team gets $1,500, second place $750 and third place $500. There are also side pots teams can buy into for other cash prizes.

After the boats return, the annual banquet brings everyone together at the Tackle Box events center for prize distribution and more. The Tuna Classic went ahead last year during a time when other events were canceled due to the pandemic, but the banquet couldn’t be held.

“Our banquet will be back on and we are so excited to hear the fishing stories from the day,” said Hansen. “We missed last year due to COVID. We typically see anywhere from 400-600 people attend this.”

Participants can donate a portion of their catch for local food banks. That tuna is processed and canned, this year by Merino’s Seafood and Coastal Harvest. It is then distributed to local food banks.

And it’s a huge addition to food banks — in 2019, close to 10,000 pounds of tuna was donated to coastal food banks. Hansen said she recently checked with the South Shore food bank and they were “still very well stocked on tuna from previous years.” Over the history of the event, close to 92,000 pounds of canned tuna have been donated.

Numerous sponsors make the event possible. The Port supplies moorage, said Bold, and Hansen said other sponsors include Defiance Marine, Allied Boats, Raymarine, Robertson and Olson Construction, Renaissance Marine, Duckworth and Accurate Reels.

“It’s a pretty fun weekend, touches a lot of lives, and is very positive for the community,” said Bold. “Mission Outdoors is a great organization.”

Mission Outdoors’ “mantra,” said Bold, is “Hope Grows Outdoors,” and the organization reaches out to veterans who may feel isolated, a big part of the reason the tournament took place last year despite the pandemic concerns. Hansen said then that the additional feelings of isolation and loneliness experienced by combat veterans brought on by the pandemic “was the last thing they needed.”

For more information or to sign up for the Tuna Classic, go to missionoutdoors.org/wtc/. For more on the programs and events for veterans put on by Mission Outdoors, go to missionoutdoors.org.

DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD Volunteers with the Mission Outdoors Washington Tuna Classic filet the day’s catch in the Westport boat basin. The year this photo was taken, 2019, the tournament donated close to 10,000 pounds of tuna for local food banks.

DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD Volunteers with the Mission Outdoors Washington Tuna Classic filet the day’s catch in the Westport boat basin. The year this photo was taken, 2019, the tournament donated close to 10,000 pounds of tuna for local food banks.

DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD The Mission Outdoors Washington Tuna Classic returns to Westport Aug. 13-14. The 2020 event was a success, despite the ongoing pandemic, as dozens of veterans and their families enjoyed fishing, Westport hospitality and tournament swag.

DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD The Mission Outdoors Washington Tuna Classic returns to Westport Aug. 13-14. The 2020 event was a success, despite the ongoing pandemic, as dozens of veterans and their families enjoyed fishing, Westport hospitality and tournament swag.

DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD Whether you’re in the tournament or not, there’s plenty of colorful Washington Tuna Classic merchandise for sale near the Westport weigh shack when the tourney comes to town Aug. 13-14.

DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD Whether you’re in the tournament or not, there’s plenty of colorful Washington Tuna Classic merchandise for sale near the Westport weigh shack when the tourney comes to town Aug. 13-14.