Sunset Bay, NY Hosts The Highest Paying Walleye Shootout In The Country
Published: Thursday, June 20, 2019
The 2019 Sunset Bay Walleye Shootout is slated for July 18 through 21 with the main event being Saturday, July 20. This year’s event – the NINTH tournament – has grown to become the highest paying walleye shootout in the country and has some very exciting new components to this year’s tournament.
The tournament is a professional, best six fish format (walleyes), with the highest total weight being crowned the champions. The event pays the top 15 places with a variety of big fish and Calcutta options. This year’s payout of cash and prizes is expected to reach over $200,000 and includes great prize packages from national sponsors such as Camping World, Honda Marine, Okuma, Garmin Electronics, West Marine - Buffalo, and so much more.
Anglers from over 17 states converge into Sunset Bay, New York, located in Chautauqua County, right on the shores of eastern Lake Erie. The tournament boasts one of the most unique live weigh-in shows anywhere, right on the beach at Cabana Sam’s/Sunset Bay Beach Club.
The tournament weigh-in show is free to the public and all ages are welcome to come watch some of the largest walleyes in the world be presented on stage to determine the best walleye team on the lake. The weigh-in show starts at 4:30 pm Saturday afternoon. For early risers, come watch the live shoot out from the Cattaraugus Creek pier heads. 120 boats will line up and take off at 7am sharp; probably one of the most unique things to see on all of the Great Lakes. The pier heads are free access to the public and get you very close to the action.
The weigh-in venue at Cabana Sam’s is located at 1028 South Shore Dr., Irving, NY 14081, and the marina pier heads are located at 11952 Allegany Rd. Irving, NY 14081.
For anglers wishing to participate in the tournament, please contact Captain Donald Ruppert at (716) 435-4137 (text) or email at [email protected].
Find out more at www.facebook.com/sunsetbaywalleyeshootout.
This article first appeared in the Launch Issue (May/Jun) 2019 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
