Baldwinsville will host its second annual carp tournament May 16-17.

BALDWINSVILLE - Professional carp anglers will descend upon the Seneca River May 14-17 in hope of surpassing last year’s unprecedented 28,544 pounds—or 14 tons of carp—caught during the 2007 American Carp Society Northeast Regionals inaugural tournament here. More than 30 two-person teams have signed up.

Tournament officials indicate that this year’s registration is out-pacing the previous year when Frederic Labrousse and Numa Marengo representing France walked away with $5,000 cash first prize out-fishing a field of thirty-four two-person teams with an amazing 225 carp weighing 3,018 pounds. The largest carp during the competition was a 32 pound, 6 ounce common carp caught by Angela and John Bramley of North Carolina.

Teams representing Romania, Hungary, Poland, Canada, England and over ten U.S. states—including Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina and Illinois—have already signed up for the May 14-17 competition vying for a cash prizes of $10,000. Tackle prizes from sponsors Fox International, D.A.M., Rig Innovations and Big Carp Tackle sweeten the prize pool.

“The shear number of fish caught and released during the 2007 competition was staggering,” said David Moore, ACS tournaments director. “Our circuit anglers will have a better understanding of the Seneca River but the outcome will still be determined by technique, the luck of the draw for the team’s peg position and stamina.”

“The Seneca River is an amazing fishery, and we’re tremendously thrilled by the warm welcome of the Baldwinsville community—all of Central New York—and the hard work that everyone puts into hosting the tournament. We thank all of those involved that help make this event happen. We’re certainly anxious to return and hope that once again the fish cooperate way beyond our expectations.”

The historic Red Mill Inn in downtown Baldwinsville will once again serve as sponsor and tournament headquarters. Other ACS Tournaments sponsors are Reuben Heaton scales, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and EconoLodge.

The tournament course will follow the Seneca River downstream from the Red Mill Inn toward the Onondaga Lake outlet near and around Long Branch Park just 4.9 miles away. Competitors will fish non-stop for fifty consecutive hours.

New leader board technology will allow the general public to view course scores in near-real time on the ACS Tournaments’ website.

ACS Tournaments is dedicated to the education and sport of catch-and-release carp angling. Competitions are open to those who exhibit good sportsmanship and show humane stewardship of the common carp species. More information about ACS Tournaments and how to register for the tournament can be found at www.acstournaments.com.