BOOMER Esiason will be heading to Montauk and team ing up with the Redbone to help raise money for cystic fibrosis.
The Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF) will partner with the Redbone for the sixth annual Montauk Slam, a national celebrity fishing event to raise funds and awareness for cystic fibrosis, at the Montauk Yacht Club Resort and Marina, Sept. 19-21.
A field of 80-plus anglers and celebrities are expected to use fly and light tackle for a Nor East Grand Slam of striped bass, bluefish and false albacore. All fish caught are photographed, measured and immediately returned to the water. The teams are guided by 40 experienced local captains.
Besides its extensive work with raising monies for CF research and education, BEF recently has created a scholarship fund to assist CF patients pursuing college degrees. Proceeds from the tournament will be presented by the Redbone to BEF for the scholarship program.
“As research and therapeutic developments have increased the lifespan of CF patients over the past two decades, the need for a scholarship program for these students has emerged,” said Esiason who is best known for his years as a top quarterback in the NFL and is now a TV and radio sports broadcaster.
“Having grown up here on Long Island, I’m delighted to see the foundation initiate and develop this scholarship program as well as take an active role in the Redbone tournaments created in the Florida Keys 20 years ago by Capt. Gary and Susan Ellis, who are also parents of a CF child. Their events have raised millions of dollars for CF research and awareness through nearly 30 annual celebrity fishing events.”
The entry fee is $3,000 to fish with a celebrity or $3,500 for two people fishing as a team.
Besides Esiason, other celebrities scheduled are collegiate and NFL center Dave Rimington, who is also president of BEF, and baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs.
The individual tournament grand champion will win a stainless steel Rolex watch. The team grand champions will each win stainless steel Montauk Slam sculptures by Roger Fowler. Other tournament category winners will take home framed original and limited-edition marine artwork from nationally known artists.
In addition, the tournament’s grand champion male and female anglers and the top celebrity angler will qualify to compete in the International Game Fish Association Inshore World Championship next year in the Florida Keys.
To learn more about the Montauk Slam, go to the Redbone Web site at http://www.redbone.org or call the Redbone offices at (305) 664-2002. To find out more about Boomer Esiason Foundation, go to http://www.esiason.org.
