After thirty years on the water, the Mark Gerretson Memorial Fishing Tournament Committee weighed its final fish on August 16, 2025 at the Palm Beach Yacht Center.
The tournament was founded by Mark Gerretson, a Delray Beach native, initially as the Delray Beach Jaycees Fishing Tournament. Mark was the son of Patricia Gerretson and nephew of Jerry and Barbara Kern. Mark passed away unexpectedly in 2005 and his friends and family continued the tournament renaming it in his memory: The Mark Gerretson Memorial Fishing Tournament.
Over the thirty years, the tournament has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to local charitable organizations supporting the community’s youth, including: Delray Beach Chamber Education Fund, Achievement Center, Plumosa Foundation, Delray Citizens for Delray Police, Boys and Girls Club, Atlantic High Senior Scholarships, Cros Ministries, Roots and Wings and Family Promise. The tournament has also supported Safety Patrol 5th Grade trips to Washington D.C., the Model UN Program in New York City, and provided school supplies for students at Pine Grove Elementary.
The Tournament Committee thanks all of the tournament’s sponsors, donors, volunteers and fisherman for thirty years of loyalty. We could not have done it without everyone involved.
MGMFT Committee members from throughout the years: the Gerretson Family, Keith Kern, Bill (Whitey) Black, Kristen Francis, Jennifer Buce, Tim Knapp, Charlotte Hillman, Mike Risely, John Brewer, Jeffrey Messer, Noel Bourque, Gary “Falcon” Musial, and Carol Dugan.
This Years Winners:
Largest Fish – Chips Ahoy – Kingfish 28.5 lbs.
Kingfish 1st Place – Bad Attitude – 16.86 lbs
Kingfish 2nd Place – Formula 23 – 11.08 lbs.
Kingfish 3rd Place – Lightly Salted – 9.82 lbs
Dolphin 1st Place – Off the Hook 5.84 lbs.
Dolphin 2nd Place – Bottom Line 5.5 lbs.
Wahoo 1st Place – Reality Check 12.84 lbs.
Lady Angler – Chips Ahoy 15.12 lbs Kingfish Family Funfish – Lil Nomad
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