Cape Lookout Albacore Festival
The original Cape Lookout Albacore Festival began in 2002 as the vision of past Director Charlie Utz. His two year old daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2001 and had undergone treatments at Duke Children's Hospital. The Albacore Festival was organized as a charity event to raise money for children being treated for Cancer at the Hospital. The Tournament was an instant success and went on for several years raising money for it's charity.
Fast forward to the year 2014. It had been several years since the last Albacore Festival. A group of fishing friends and admitted "Albie Addicts" started throwing around the idea of resurrecting the Cape Lookout Albacore Festival. With the blessing of past Director Charlie Utz, the Cape Lookout Albacore Festival was reborn. Since North Carolina has such strong military ties, and because we are all grateful for those who serve to protect our freedom, it was decided to name Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing as the Festival's charity. Throughout 2014, the CLAF Board met, planned, made contacts, and laid out the blueprints for the 2014 Albacore Festival. The entire fly fishing community united to donate time, money and goods for the Festival, and thanks to all of them, the new Cape Lookout Albacore Festival was a great success. $10,000 was raised during the 2 day event and donated to Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing.
In 2017, the festival expanded to include an inshore fishing division to the tournament. Anglers could now compete in the traditional categories while fishing for redfish, speckled trout, and flounder, or could compete in both divisions. The option was favorably received with numerous entrants for the new categories. To support this effort, the festival adopted an the expanded name of Cape Lookout Albacore and Redfish Festival, and Copper Redfish trophies were awarded. We also received the CEO of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. and his staff at the event. They were so impressed with the festival that our partnership was further solidified resulting in the festival becoming an official PHWFF National Fundraiser! To date, the festival has donated over $75,000 in cash and in kind donations.
The Cape Lookout Albacore and Redfish Festival was a national fundraiser for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. with a 2 day event open to the public, along with a private "Healing Waters Day" for disabled military veterans. The "Healing Waters Day" has been traditionally organized with PHWFF along with local boat captains, to give disabled veterans the opportunity to get out on the water and chase False Albacore on fly.
This year the festival hopes to provide our Veterans the same fishing opportunity, while giving the Albie community a chance to come together. We will offer a fun day of fellowship and friendly competition with an enjoyable awards party. Our hope is to bring everyone back together this year to have some fun together, and to set the stage for a full event next year. More details will be released soon. We hope to see you this Fall!
Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/CapeLookoutAlbacoreFestival for the most up to date information.
Fast forward to the year 2014. It had been several years since the last Albacore Festival. A group of fishing friends and admitted "Albie Addicts" started throwing around the idea of resurrecting the Cape Lookout Albacore Festival. With the blessing of past Director Charlie Utz, the Cape Lookout Albacore Festival was reborn. Since North Carolina has such strong military ties, and because we are all grateful for those who serve to protect our freedom, it was decided to name Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing as the Festival's charity. Throughout 2014, the CLAF Board met, planned, made contacts, and laid out the blueprints for the 2014 Albacore Festival. The entire fly fishing community united to donate time, money and goods for the Festival, and thanks to all of them, the new Cape Lookout Albacore Festival was a great success. $10,000 was raised during the 2 day event and donated to Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing.
In 2017, the festival expanded to include an inshore fishing division to the tournament. Anglers could now compete in the traditional categories while fishing for redfish, speckled trout, and flounder, or could compete in both divisions. The option was favorably received with numerous entrants for the new categories. To support this effort, the festival adopted an the expanded name of Cape Lookout Albacore and Redfish Festival, and Copper Redfish trophies were awarded. We also received the CEO of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. and his staff at the event. They were so impressed with the festival that our partnership was further solidified resulting in the festival becoming an official PHWFF National Fundraiser! To date, the festival has donated over $75,000 in cash and in kind donations.
The Cape Lookout Albacore and Redfish Festival was a national fundraiser for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. with a 2 day event open to the public, along with a private "Healing Waters Day" for disabled military veterans. The "Healing Waters Day" has been traditionally organized with PHWFF along with local boat captains, to give disabled veterans the opportunity to get out on the water and chase False Albacore on fly.
This year the festival hopes to provide our Veterans the same fishing opportunity, while giving the Albie community a chance to come together. We will offer a fun day of fellowship and friendly competition with an enjoyable awards party. Our hope is to bring everyone back together this year to have some fun together, and to set the stage for a full event next year. More details will be released soon. We hope to see you this Fall!
Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/CapeLookoutAlbacoreFestival for the most up to date information.
"Congratulations to the winners of the 2015 Cape Lookout Albacore Festival."
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) began in 2005 serving wounded military service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then, PHWFF has expanded nationwide, establishing its highly successful program in Department of Defense hospitals, Warrior Transition Units, and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and clinics.
The Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing program provides basic fly fishing, fly casting, fly tying and rod building classes, along with clinics participants ranging from beginners who have never fished before, to those with prior fly fishing and tying experience who are adapting their skills to their new abilities. All fly fishing and tying equipment is provided to the participants at no cost. Fishing trips, both one day and multi-day, are also provided free of charge to participants.
PHWFF is unique because their volunteers are teaching classes on an on-going, long term basis. It is much more than a one day fishing trip. For many participants, particularly disabled veterans, the socialization and camaraderie of the classes are just as important as the fishing outings, and provide them a new activity.
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing relies on Federation of Fly Fishers, Trout Unlimited, and independent fly fishing clubs to conduct the program at the DOD and VA facilities across the nation. The volunteer staff and outings leaders include experienced fly fishers and guides, all of whom donate their time and knowledge to support PHWFF participants.
In order to have a viable program, three groups must co-exist: a fly fishing club willing to provide the volunteers and organize the program, a DOD or VA medical facility willing to host the program, and injured military members or disabled veterans willing to participate. Because each of these groups is unique, no two Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing programs will be exactly the same.
Visit www.projecthealingwaters.org to learn more.
The Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing program provides basic fly fishing, fly casting, fly tying and rod building classes, along with clinics participants ranging from beginners who have never fished before, to those with prior fly fishing and tying experience who are adapting their skills to their new abilities. All fly fishing and tying equipment is provided to the participants at no cost. Fishing trips, both one day and multi-day, are also provided free of charge to participants.
PHWFF is unique because their volunteers are teaching classes on an on-going, long term basis. It is much more than a one day fishing trip. For many participants, particularly disabled veterans, the socialization and camaraderie of the classes are just as important as the fishing outings, and provide them a new activity.
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing relies on Federation of Fly Fishers, Trout Unlimited, and independent fly fishing clubs to conduct the program at the DOD and VA facilities across the nation. The volunteer staff and outings leaders include experienced fly fishers and guides, all of whom donate their time and knowledge to support PHWFF participants.
In order to have a viable program, three groups must co-exist: a fly fishing club willing to provide the volunteers and organize the program, a DOD or VA medical facility willing to host the program, and injured military members or disabled veterans willing to participate. Because each of these groups is unique, no two Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing programs will be exactly the same.
Visit www.projecthealingwaters.org to learn more.
"A few members of the PHWFF Crystal Coast Program, 1 of over 200 PHWFF Programs Nationwide."
Contact us at: info@capelookoutalbacorefestival.com