Jerry Pierce Memorial Fishing Tournament celebrates 15 years of youth fishing fun
by Liv Dennis | Contributing Writer
One of the community’s most beloved traditions will return on Saturday, June 6, when the Jerry Pierce Memorial Fishing Tournament celebrates its 15th official year at the Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier.
Hosted by the Folly Beach Anglers, the free Take a Kid Fishing Day event welcomes children ages 4 to 16 for a morning centered on fishing, family and fun. No preregistration is required, and organizers expect hundreds to gather on the pier from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the annual tournament.
Laurie Hull, vice president of the Charleston Anglers, said the event has become much more than a fishing competition over the years.
“It’s really about gaining an initial interest in being an angler and learning how to fish and continuing the support and love of fishing,” Hull said.
Hull has helped organize the tournament for several years as part of a committee within the Charleston Anglers. She said the event continues to draw strong community support, with approximately 43 volunteers helping last year alone.
While participation slowed during the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers have steadily rebuilt the event and hope to welcome around 300 children this year.
“It stays pretty steady at around 250 kids,” Hull said. “Then you bring a parent with them, and you get 500 people on the pier that day.”
For many participants, the tournament is their first experience fishing. Hull said organizers work to make the day welcoming and accessible for beginners by providing fishing rods, bait, buckets, T-shirts and water free of charge while supplies last.
Registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by the tournament at 9 a.m. Throughout the morning, children fish alongside parents, grandparents and volunteers before bringing their catches to the weigh-in station. At the end of the event, awards are presented to the top three boys and girls in each age division, with trophies, medals and prizes handed out during a closing ceremony.
Beyond the competition, Hull said some of the most memorable moments come from seeing children catch a fish for the very first time.
“I think what it boils down to is the excitement these kids feel when they catch a fish for the first time,” she said. “Being with their families when it happens and being part of the action and activity of a tournament — it’s just a lot of fun.”
All eligible fish are released after weigh-in in accordance with South Carolina Department of Natural Resources guidelines, helping teach young anglers about conservation and respect for local ecosystems.
Hull noted that the first Saturday of June is recognized as an official day of fishing by the City of Folly Beach and that similar youth fishing traditions take place across the country. Even so, she believes the Folly Beach tournament has become a special Lowcountry tradition all its own.
The 15th annual Jerry Pierce Memorial Fishing Tournament will be held Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier. For more information, visit www.visitfolly.com/jerry-pierce-memorial-fishing-tournament or find the Folly Anglers on Facebook.
