04-20-2011, 11:10 AM
PUNTA GORDA, Fla. - The Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge Tournament and Festival returns to Southwest Florida by making its Punta Gorda, Fla., debut May 13 - 15, 2011, at Laishley Park. The tournament, hosted by Laishley Crab House (www.laishleycrabhouse.com), combines the allure of competitive big-game sport fishing with cutting-edge science, practical conservation principles and informative entertainment. It is quickly becoming an industry leader and model for the next generation of shark-release tournaments. Teams will be competing for $15,000 in cash and prizes as they fish Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico.
The Ultimate Shark Challenge festival at Laishley Park on Saturday and Sunday will complement the competition by broadcasting highlights on digital displays. Event sponsors will conduct product demonstrations and giveaways and a wide variety of merchant vendors and unique attractions, such as Mote's Mobile Aquarium, will be on display, along with shark-centric exhibits, interactive demonstrations and delicious food and cold beverages. Admission into this family-friendly festival is free.
Guy Harvey, world-renowned marine artist, conservationist and tournament partner, will make a personal appearance during the weekend to meet with fans and promote the tournament's shared mission.
"The Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge Tournament and Festival will be a uniquely exciting event for participants, spectators and everyone who cares about the future of our oceans," Harvey said.
Teams will have the option of entering a two-day elimination competition with either two or three anglers. A dozen shark species are eligible for points, but finding and catching them aren't the only challenges teams will face. To qualify, eligible sharks must meet a minimum total length of five feet.
Sharks will be measured in the water using a device custom-designed and provided by the USC before they are research tagged by the team and released back to the wild. In some cases, candidate specimens may be outfitted with a satellite tracking tag. An observer professionally trained and certified by USC staff and the Mote Center for Shark Research in species identification, tournament rules and proper tagging and release procedures will also be placed on board each team vessel.
Mote Marine Laboratory's Center for Shark Research staff is USC's chief science and research partner, and will oversee those aspects of the tournament, including all tagging operations. Hammerhead and bull sharks will be the focus of the satellite tagging efforts, but other species, such as tiger sharks, may be tagged. Tags are designed to transmit location and other valuable information about the shark's travels. Once satellite tags are deployed, the public will be able to follow these sharks' travels online.
Additional information about the 2011 Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge Tournament and Festival including team registration, sponsorship opportunities and festival vendor inquiries, can be found on the event's websitewww.UltimateSharkChallenge.com.
Where to Stay during the 2011 Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge
Those traveling to Punta Gorda to attend the tournament and festival can take advantage of the $82 per night room rate at the event's headquarter hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Punta Gorda Harborside (www.fourpoints.com/puntagordaharborside). The hotel is located adjacent to Laishley Park & Marina and within walking distance to dining and shopping. Accommodations at the discounted rate should be booked directly with the hotel by calling (941) 637-6770 and asking for the "Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge" rate. The discounted rate is subject to tax, based on availability and valid May 13 - 15, 2011. Additional lodging options can be found online atwww.charlotteharbortravel.com.
About Ultimate Shark Challenge Creators<br />
The tournament was first developed in 2009 when brothers Sean and Brooks Paxton approached Robert Hueter, Ph.D., director of Mote Marine Laboratory's Center for Shark Research, with their concept for a new all-release shark tournament format. The brothers already knew Hueter had run a successful all-release, research-driving shark tournament between 1989 and 1998 along the Southwest Florida coast. Before too long, the trio and their evolving ideas were joined by Capt. Robert Moore, whose experience and like-mindedness were essential to rounding out this new 'shark-release' concept. Ultimately, the four of them teamed up with renowned marine wildlife artist, scientist and conservationist Guy Harvey, Ph.D., to produce this innovative new model for responsible sport fishing that also promotes and supports shark research and marine conservation.
About Mote Marine Laboratory<br />
Founded in 1955, Mote Marine Laboratory is an independent nonprofit marine research organization. Mote is dedicated to advancing the science of the sea through the study of marine and estuarine ecosystems, through our public Mote Aquarium and through an education division that provides unique programs for all ages. Learn more at www.mote.org.
About Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation<br />
Founded by marine biologist and artist Guy Harvey, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation is an organization of philanthropists, conservationists, scientists and educators focused on developing sensible strategies for promoting the conservation of our oceans and nurturing the next generation of marine scientists and guardians of our seas. Read more at www.guyharveyoceanfoundation.org
About Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands<br />
Located halfway between Tampa and Naples on the Southwest Florida Gulf coast, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands is a charming collection of nine coastal communities surrounding the state's second largest harbor. Florida's premier year-round eco-tourism destination, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands offers a pristine unspoiled beauty that has served as the backdrop for seven major feature films as well as countless memorable vacations. A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands has been named to SAIL magazine's "10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States," ranked by Golf Digest as "Third Best Place to Live and Play Golf in America," and rated by MONEY magazine as one of the "Best Places to Live in the South." Port Charlotte was named "Best Place to Retire" by MONEYmagazine in 2009. The city of Punta Gorda was named in 2008 as one of "Top Ten Places to Retire Healthy" by U.S. News & World Report. Englewood, Fla. was named as #2 of the Top Ten emerging travel destinations in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.com. Learn more at www.CharlotteHarborTravel.com.
Media Contact<br />
Tournament & Festival: Directors@UltimateSharkChallenge.com<br />
Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau: Jennifer Huber, 941-743-1900, jennifer.huber@charlottelf.com<br />
Mote Marine Laboratory: Hayley Rutger, 941-374-0081, hrutger@mote.org<br />
Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation: 1-800-288-1227, info@guyharveyoceanfoundation.org
The Ultimate Shark Challenge festival at Laishley Park on Saturday and Sunday will complement the competition by broadcasting highlights on digital displays. Event sponsors will conduct product demonstrations and giveaways and a wide variety of merchant vendors and unique attractions, such as Mote's Mobile Aquarium, will be on display, along with shark-centric exhibits, interactive demonstrations and delicious food and cold beverages. Admission into this family-friendly festival is free.
Guy Harvey, world-renowned marine artist, conservationist and tournament partner, will make a personal appearance during the weekend to meet with fans and promote the tournament's shared mission.
"The Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge Tournament and Festival will be a uniquely exciting event for participants, spectators and everyone who cares about the future of our oceans," Harvey said.
Teams will have the option of entering a two-day elimination competition with either two or three anglers. A dozen shark species are eligible for points, but finding and catching them aren't the only challenges teams will face. To qualify, eligible sharks must meet a minimum total length of five feet.
Sharks will be measured in the water using a device custom-designed and provided by the USC before they are research tagged by the team and released back to the wild. In some cases, candidate specimens may be outfitted with a satellite tracking tag. An observer professionally trained and certified by USC staff and the Mote Center for Shark Research in species identification, tournament rules and proper tagging and release procedures will also be placed on board each team vessel.
Mote Marine Laboratory's Center for Shark Research staff is USC's chief science and research partner, and will oversee those aspects of the tournament, including all tagging operations. Hammerhead and bull sharks will be the focus of the satellite tagging efforts, but other species, such as tiger sharks, may be tagged. Tags are designed to transmit location and other valuable information about the shark's travels. Once satellite tags are deployed, the public will be able to follow these sharks' travels online.
Additional information about the 2011 Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge Tournament and Festival including team registration, sponsorship opportunities and festival vendor inquiries, can be found on the event's websitewww.UltimateSharkChallenge.com.
Where to Stay during the 2011 Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge
Those traveling to Punta Gorda to attend the tournament and festival can take advantage of the $82 per night room rate at the event's headquarter hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Punta Gorda Harborside (www.fourpoints.com/puntagordaharborside). The hotel is located adjacent to Laishley Park & Marina and within walking distance to dining and shopping. Accommodations at the discounted rate should be booked directly with the hotel by calling (941) 637-6770 and asking for the "Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge" rate. The discounted rate is subject to tax, based on availability and valid May 13 - 15, 2011. Additional lodging options can be found online atwww.charlotteharbortravel.com.
About Ultimate Shark Challenge Creators<br />
The tournament was first developed in 2009 when brothers Sean and Brooks Paxton approached Robert Hueter, Ph.D., director of Mote Marine Laboratory's Center for Shark Research, with their concept for a new all-release shark tournament format. The brothers already knew Hueter had run a successful all-release, research-driving shark tournament between 1989 and 1998 along the Southwest Florida coast. Before too long, the trio and their evolving ideas were joined by Capt. Robert Moore, whose experience and like-mindedness were essential to rounding out this new 'shark-release' concept. Ultimately, the four of them teamed up with renowned marine wildlife artist, scientist and conservationist Guy Harvey, Ph.D., to produce this innovative new model for responsible sport fishing that also promotes and supports shark research and marine conservation.
About Mote Marine Laboratory<br />
Founded in 1955, Mote Marine Laboratory is an independent nonprofit marine research organization. Mote is dedicated to advancing the science of the sea through the study of marine and estuarine ecosystems, through our public Mote Aquarium and through an education division that provides unique programs for all ages. Learn more at www.mote.org.
About Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation<br />
Founded by marine biologist and artist Guy Harvey, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation is an organization of philanthropists, conservationists, scientists and educators focused on developing sensible strategies for promoting the conservation of our oceans and nurturing the next generation of marine scientists and guardians of our seas. Read more at www.guyharveyoceanfoundation.org
About Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands<br />
Located halfway between Tampa and Naples on the Southwest Florida Gulf coast, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands is a charming collection of nine coastal communities surrounding the state's second largest harbor. Florida's premier year-round eco-tourism destination, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands offers a pristine unspoiled beauty that has served as the backdrop for seven major feature films as well as countless memorable vacations. A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands has been named to SAIL magazine's "10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States," ranked by Golf Digest as "Third Best Place to Live and Play Golf in America," and rated by MONEY magazine as one of the "Best Places to Live in the South." Port Charlotte was named "Best Place to Retire" by MONEYmagazine in 2009. The city of Punta Gorda was named in 2008 as one of "Top Ten Places to Retire Healthy" by U.S. News & World Report. Englewood, Fla. was named as #2 of the Top Ten emerging travel destinations in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.com. Learn more at www.CharlotteHarborTravel.com.
Media Contact<br />
Tournament & Festival: Directors@UltimateSharkChallenge.com<br />
Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau: Jennifer Huber, 941-743-1900, jennifer.huber@charlottelf.com<br />
Mote Marine Laboratory: Hayley Rutger, 941-374-0081, hrutger@mote.org<br />
Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation: 1-800-288-1227, info@guyharveyoceanfoundation.org