Palmetto Center Student Angler Championships this Weekend
Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 9:49PM Updated 12/2 with comments from Visit Anderson's Neil Paul
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
A pair of Palmetto Boat Challenge student fishing tournaments are set for Hartwell Lake Friday and Saturday.
More than 50 boats are expected to launch from Green Pond Landing and Event Center Friday for the Two-Day Palmetto Boat Center College Tournament Trail, with boats launching at 7 a.m. and the weigh-in at 3 p.m.
On Saturday, more than 225 boats, carrying more than 450 students (including 60 middle school teams), are set to participate in the Palmetto Boat High School Tournament, which will kick off at 7 a.m. with weigh-ins for middle school competitors at 1:30 p.m. and high school participants at 3 p.m. and the college final weigh-ins at 5 p.m.
“The Palmetto Boat Center tournaments have become a staple at Green Pond Landing and Lake Hartwell," said Neil Paul, executive director of Visit Anderson. "The PBC College Championship will bring anglers representing colleges and universities from three states, while the High School and Middle School events feature our youth and our future residents of Anderson County. They are extremely important to our community, our lake and our facilities.”
All events are free and open to the public.
“High School fishing in the Upstate remains one of the fastest growing activities in school," said Marty Walker, Tournament Director, and owner of title sponsor Palmetto Boat Center. "Fishing is a competitive activity that is open and challenging for everyone. This High School event is a super tournament, where all four divisions compete together to see who the best for the day."
The high school anglers are competing for the heaviest five-bass limit, and for a $2,000 scholarship to the winning team. The college anglers will be finalizing the angler’s of the year and school of the year on Saturday.
The event is sponsored by Palmetto Boat Center, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Shimano Fishing, Nitro Performance Bass Boats, Phoenix Bass Boats, Tracker Off Road, Mercury Marine, Visit Anderson, and the Anderson County Parks & Recreation Department. For more information on the tournament trail, contact Marty Walker at 864-561-2026, martyw@palmettoboatcenter.com.