Rob Ilves, a popular figure in Horseshoe Beach who was seriously injured on July 4th while lighting off the Town of Horseshoe Beach's fireworks display, will be the beneficiary of a community fishing and scalloping tournament on September 5.

Ilves and his wife, Donna, have lived in Horseshoe Beach for several years and have helped numerous people around town, according to Will Lawler, a promoter for the event.

A group of individuals and businesses will host "The Horseshoe Beach Fishing & Scalloping Shootout" during Labor Day weekend to raise money to help Ilves with expenses incurred as a result of the accident.

The tournament entry fee is  $40 per boat. All of the entry fees and donations collected will go directly to Ilves for his medical and accident expenses.

An account has been opened at Bank of America to deposit the entry fees as well as facilitate the collection of additional donations. All of the funds deposited into this account will be used exclusively by Ilves.

For more information about the tournament or to obtain an entry form, contact Tina Brotherton at (352) 498-5768, Will Lawler at (813) 789-8974 or Joe Massie at (352) 498-7061.

Entry fees and additional donations are being collected at the following locations. Please make all checks payable to Rob Ilves or to Bank of America Account No. 898030151597.

Panama Paul’s General Store,  110 Main St,, Horseshoe Beach

Tina Brotherton, P.O. Box 80, Horseshoe Beach 32648

Horseshoe Beach Café, Main Street, Horseshoe Beach

Florida Forest Products, 44 SW 10th Street, Cross City

Jimmy Butler – (352) 498-2400

Compass Realty Office in Sam’s Plaza, Horseshoe Beach

Will Lawler , P.O. Box 50 Horseshoe Beach

Also, donations can be made in person at any Bank of America location.

Over $1,000 in Donated Prizes will be given for the following categories:

    • Redfish (Heaviest Legal Redfish)

    • Seatrout (Heaviest Legal Seatrout)

    • Grouper (Heaviest Legal Grouper)

    • Youth Angler Award

    • Biggest, Baddest & Fattest Scallop Contest (Heaviest combined weight of three scallops)

    • Not a lot of rules. All legal fishing methods are allowed.

    • This is a fun tournament for a great cause.

    • Fishing/Scalloping hours are from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

    • All fish/scallops must be weighed in by 5 p.m. at Sam’s Plaza, in Horseshoe Beach.

    • The entry fee is only $40 per boat and covers both the fishing and scalloping categories.

    • The entry fee covers the entire boat’s anglers. No limit of anglers per boat.

    • Donated prizes totaling in excess of $1,000 in value will be awarded. There will be no cash prizes.

    • “Youth Angler Award” is for the heaviest legal redfish, seatrout or grouper,  caught by an angler age 15 or younger.

    • Each boat can specify on the entry form if they are representing the “East”, “West” or “The Rest”:

East – representing the east side of CR-351 in Horseshoe Beach

West – representing the west side of CR-351 in Horseshoe Beach

The Rest – representing anywhere outside of the cattle gap