The 6th ANNUAL BTB MAKO RODEO was held in Brielle, NJ this weekend in honor of Brett T. Bailey, an avid fisherman lost on September 11, 2001.  For the sixth consecutive year, the Brett T. Bailey Foundation raised money for various local charities through fundraising efforts associated with this tournament.  This year approximately $20,000 was raised and will go to the State of New Jersey National Guard and Reservists, to financially assist those active individuals and families in need, who have decided to make the ultimate sacrifice, to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, to preserve our way of life.

The weather and the fishing were both phenomenal.  The winning Mako weighed in at 250lbs at Hoffman’s Marina and was boated by the crew of the ‘Benchmark.”  The awards dinner was held Saturday night at Simko’s Restaurant where General Glenn Reith and Mr. Leonard Mayerson, Sgt. Major [ Ret ],  were on hand to accept a $20,000 grant on behalf of National Guard State Family Readiness Council from the Brett T. Bailey Foundation.  Also at the award’s dinner, the Foundation awarded over $30,000 in prizes and awarded $9,775 to the winning fisherman aboard the ‘Benchmark,’ and the ‘Kingfisher’ who boated a 321lb Thresher shark and won first place in the Thresher Calcutta.  Other notable catches include a 232 pound Mako weighed in by the crew of the Andiamo, a 222 pound mako boated by the crew of the ‘Marc IV’ and a 237 pound Thresher taken by the Crew of the ‘Big Mac.’

The Foundation would like to thank Ed Bendozik of Hoffman’s Marina, Larry Schmidt of Union Landing and Michael Simko of Simko’s Restaurant for their efforts, hospitality and support as well as all the people that participated in this weekend’s festivities.   The money raised will hopefully make a difference in the lives of some of the many individuals serving our Country.  For information on next year’s tournament or how you can help the Brett T. Bailey Foundation, please contact Art DellaSalla at 732.793.4862.