Register for the Tournament

The 39^th Annual Jerry Hill Memorial Kids Fishing Tournament is taking place on May 9, 2026, from 7 AM to 11 AM. Enjoy the outdoors with your family as you compete and fish together in this free fishing tournament for young anglers ages 5-14 years old. Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each age category. All kids will receive a free T-shirt and lunch cooked by Kiwanis volunteers and provided by the Manatee Fish and Game Association.

About the Tournament

The Jerry Hill Memorial Kids Fishing Tournament has been providing outdoor fun and recreation for families for 41 years, since 1984. The tournament was started by Yvonne and Harry Bedell of the Bradenton Bass Club and taken over by Manatee Fish and Game Association in 1987. The tournament is dedicated to a beloved local outdoor writer for the Bradenton Herald, Jerry Hill. He wrote about this very tournament and many local efforts in conservation, hunting, and fishing.

This tournament first started in a small community pond, later moving to the Palmetto, before settling in the current location at Tom Bennett Park in East Bradenton. This new location offers a larger space and amenities for families to enjoy, including an accessible playground and splash pad.

This tournament is a wonderful opportunity for families to enjoy some time in nature, spend time with their friends, and even get a free lunch. All kids will receive a free T-shirt and a hotdog lunch cooked by Kiwanis volunteers and provided by the Manatee Fish and Game Association.

Become a Tournament Volunteer!

If you have outgrown the tournament or are a passionate angler, give back to the next generation by volunteering at the tournament.

• No fishing experience needed. Help check in and register participants for the tournament.
• If you have some fishing experience, become a tournament judge and help measure fish, record catches, and award prizes to tournament participants.

For more information or to enroll as a volunteer, please email Sara Alvarez Collazo.