The optional calcutta was added to enhance the fishing tournament. Simply put a calcutta is a tournament for the largest legal fish species. All tournament rules still apply and there is a separate calcutta for each species. There is no requirement to enter the calcutta but if the person who weighs in the biggest fish has not entered than the prize will be given to the largest fish from someone that entered the contest. The idea is that you may not feel really confident in your chances of bringing in the best trout, bass, and flounder, but may think your chances of bringing in the single largest of one of those species is highly possible than you would enter the tournament and buy the calcutta.
There will be an 80/20 split of funds between the charity and the calcutta winner. So if 50 contestants paid $25 each to enter the spottail bass (redfish) calcutta than the winner would take home $1000 and the schools will benefit from the remaining $250. Now, it could be possible that the person that wins the tournament also enters one or more of the calcuttas and has him or herself a VERY NICE pay day.
The ONLY way to enter the calcutta is by attending the Captain’s Meeting which is held the afternoon before the tournament at the Robert E. Ashley Landing. This year the Captain’s meeting will be held on October 5 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. All of the rules will be fully explained there and funds will be collected from Captain’s by tournament personnel.