Community Corner

SSG Christopher Potts Fishing Tournament Concludes Saturday with Cookout

Volunteers are still needed for the benefit that will be held at the Portuguese American Club at 35 Power St. on Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m.

With the weekend quickly approaching, Aquidneck Island fishermen have been scrambling to weigh in the biggest fish they could snag in hopes of winning prizes and bragging rights in the SSG Christopher Potts Fishing Tournament.

Jackson Potts, 8-year-old son of SSG Christopher Potts, took advantage of his Labor Day and caught a blue fish and striped bass to weigh in for the tournament.

"The hurricane really wiped out the weekend for fishing for everyone," said mother Terri Potts. "He was really bummed, but thankfully he had Monday off from school and caught his two fish."

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According to Potts, Jackson has been a trophy winner since he was four-years-old—with a little help from his uncle.

In previous years, Jackson's uncle, Joe Latinville, would catch a striper and put it in the freezer at his bait shop. When the tournament would roll around, Latinville would take Jackson out fishing.

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While Jackson was distracted, Latinville would hook the frozen fish, throw it overboard and tug on the line so that Jackson could reel in his big catch.

"Being so little he didn't even realize that the fish was still frozen," said Potts, laughing. She admits that to this day, her son is still unaware of his illegitimate catch (until now).

"When he got the fish he would tell everyone all about the 'whopper' he had caught, so we created the 'whopper trophy' just for him when he was younger," she said. "We only got away with doing it for a couple of years though before he started to catch on."

Now that Jackson is older and able, he catches his own fish and loves the tournament.

"Jackson starts asking about the tournament as soon as the bait shops open," said Potts. "He goes to the benefit and socializes with the rest of us. He has a ball."

Ralph Croft, president of the Aquidneck Island Striper Team, is equally enthused about the tournament and upcoming benefit to be held Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in Portsmouth at the Portuguese American Club.

"Things are going off very well so far," said Croft, who notes that approximately 150 tickets had been sold for the cookout on Saturday. "It is going to be a madhouse."

Fish weigh-ins increased after the windy weekend, but Croft and the owners of the participating bait shops are keeping their lips sealed on the current standings.

"We are trying to keep the information under wraps," said Croft. "We know people are running around to all of the bait shops trying to figure out what people have weighed in, but we want to keep our guys guessing."

Croft would only comment that "some real lonkers" had been weighed in for the blue fish and striper divisions, and that the tautog (blackfish) division was still wide open.

Between donations and entry fees, the tournament has raised around $7,000 so far to go to the Potts family. Over the years, Terri Potts has put the money away to help sons Christopher Jr. and Jackson pay for college. Potts also donates money to various charities to support other military families.

"I just want to thank everyone for being so generous with time, and donations," said Potts. "It is amazing to me how much people are willing to do for the tournament, and it is very cool to see it all come together."

Volunteers are still needed for the benefit that will be held at the Portuguese American Club in Portsmouth on Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. Those interested should contact Ralph Croft at (401) 297-6062.


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