The time has arrived for the 25th Annual Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo! Walk-up registrations are welcome.

Established in 1993, the Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo is the ultimate fishing tournament for anglers of all ages. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, June 17. Weigh-in festivities will be held in the Wally Pontiff, Jr. Pavilion at John Ryan Stadium, located at 100 Blue Jay Way in Jefferson Parish.

Rodeo & Registration Details

Participants may begin fishing on Friday, June 16, at 6 a.m. Participants may fish anywhere; there are no territorial limitations.

Rodeo registration includes:

• Your choice of:
  • One 25th Anniversary Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo-logoed, collared shirt
  • One Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo-logoed short sleeve t-shirt
  • *All shirt orders must have been received by 5:00 PM on June 8.
• All the delicious food you can eat at the event, along with ice cold beverages
• Entertainment for the kids: face painting and snowballs
• One chance to win boatloads of fantastic giveaway prizes at the festivities
• One chance to win the Grand Prize Fishing Trip for THREE with Capt. Dudley Vandenborre. (Must be present at drawing to win. Winner must take the trip before the end of the year. Value: $850)

* Everyone is welcome to enjoy the weigh-in festivities, even without fishing. This registration includes access to food and refreshments only.

3rd Annual Ray Coates Mullet Toss Contest

Get ready for the return of the Ray Coates ’44 Mullet Toss Contest. The fish will fly when participants substitute a mullet for a beanbag in the popular corn hole toss. Many alumni will recognize the contest’s namesake, Ray Coates ’44, as a legendary prep athlete, coach, and teacher who often referred to his students as “mullets,” endearingly, of course.

Founders Award

Special recognition will be given the originators of the Blue Jays Fishing Rodeo, who assisted Brother Dardis to get the first rodeo going in the early 1990s.

New This Year!

Celebrity Chefs

NOLA Grannies – Harriet Robin and Anne Leonard from the New Orleans School of Cooking, authors of the recently released “Across the Table” cookbook, winners of the “Clash of the Grannies” on the Food Network, mothers of Jesuit alums, and grandmother of current student Reece Leonard. Check out their recent appearance on the Steve Harvey Show.

Father/Daughter Category Back for a Second Year

Division 5: Father-Daughter. Dads and their daughters will vie for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in this brand new division. See below for more details.

Fishing Rodeo Apparel

Special 25th Anniversary collared shirts may be purchased separately for $17. T-shirts are available for $10 each. (One shirt is included with rodeo registration.) The deadline for ordering additional shirts was 5:00 PM on June 8.

Divisions & Categories

Awards are distributed at the weigh-in festivities to 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place by weight in the following divisions and categories. Only pre-registered participants are eligible for awards.

Weigh-In Details

The weigh-in festivities will be held in the Wally Pontiff, Jr. Pavilion at John Ryan Stadium, located at 100 Blue Jay Way in Jefferson Parish. Ample parking — including boats — is available. View map and driving directions.

The stadium gates and the weigh-in scales will open at 2 PM. Scales close at 4 PM sharp. Food and refreshments will be served also beginning at 2 PM.

Rodeo Committee

Jesuit thanks and appreciates the hard work and efforts of the Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo Committee and its chairman, Michael McMahon ’85. A special thanks also goes to rodeo chairman emeritus Jimmy Commagere. And a tip of the fishing hat to honorary rodeo chairman Brother Billy Dardis, S.J. ’58.

Contact

For information about the Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo, contact rodeo chairman Michael McMahon ’85 at (504) 650-1700 (cell).

For assistance with registration, please contact Jeremy Reuther at (504) 483-3813 or reuther@jesuitnola.org.