The 7th 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 seventh consecutive year, the Brett T. Bailey Foundation raised money for various local charities through fundraising efforts associated with this tournament. This year approximately $18,000 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. For the third consecutive year, the tournament record was broken, this time by a 402lb Mako weighed in at the Brielle Yacht Club by the crew of the ‘Matador.' In a tournament that has become known for putting big fish on the scales, other notable catches included a 301 pound Mako weighed in by the crew of the ‘Insufishent Funds I’, a 226 pound Mako boated by the crew of the ‘Katie Claire,’ a 217 pound Mako taken by the ‘Mary Lou Crew,’ and a 211 pounder caught by the ‘Kingfisher.’ The awards dinner was held Saturday night at Simko’s Restaurant where the Foundation awarded over $15,000 in prizes and awarded $14,300 to the winning fisherman aboard the ‘Matador.’

The Foundation would like to thank Mike Smith of the Brielle Yacht Club, 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.