Cabela’s, the popular retailer of hunting, fishing, and camping merchandise, is sponsoring and staffing a catfishing tournament Saturday in Chester on the Delaware River.

The event is part of the King Kat Tournament Trail, writes Joseph DiStefano for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“Your waterway there, the Delaware River, is super-good for the sport of catfishing,” says Darrell Van Vactor, operations manager at Kentucky-based King Kat USA.

“It’s a great location, central for a lot of people,” on a stretch of the Delaware that otherwise has limited public access, Eric Williams, a Cabela’s marketing manager, told DiStefano.

Three dozen teams of catfishers from several states, and their motorboats, have registered for the daylong competition.

According to DiStefano, boats will steer from the state pier at the foot of the Commodore Barry Bridge, by the Philadelphia Union soccer stadium, at 6:30 AM. A “fishing rodeo” for kids under 13 (adult companions required) will run from 8 to 11 AM at Ethel Waters Park on Edgmont Avenue.

Cabela’s will give out some rods. Zitner’s will pass out candy. Competitors will bring their five fattest live fish to the Harrah’s casino at the north end of town for weighing and awards at 4 PM.

“We contacted Cabela’s 18 months ago,” said Drake Nakaishi, Chester’s economic-development director. “We wanted to create opportunities to get a positive story out about Chester.”

Rob Zarko, who lives in Wallingford and owns Ship Bottom Brewery, is giving contestants beer. He told DiStefano that he’s scouting Chester as a site for a second brewery.

Click here to read more about the catfishing tournament on the Delaware River in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Top photo credit: The fisherman via photopin (license)