Texas Border Business
When: July 28 – Aug 1, 2021 (www.tift.org)
Where: South Padre Island Convention Center, 7355 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island, TX
Dock at Southpoint Marina, 500 S. Point Ave., Port Isabel, TX
South Padre Island, Texas – Anglers and spectators have looked forward to the Texas International Fishing Tournament (T.I.F.T.) each summer for over 80 years. Excitement is building for the summer 2021 event since the 2020 tournament was postponed. The sparkling waters off South Padre Island and Port Isabel, Texas serve as the beautiful backdrop to Texas’ largest fishing tournament. The 81st annual T.I.F.T. kicks off July 28, 2021 at the South Padre Island Convention Center.
Registration is underway for the 81st annual event. Late registration takes place Wednesday and Thursday, July 28 and 29. Friday, July 30 anglers of all ages will take to the Laguna Madre Bay and Gulf of Mexico to compete in one of three T.I.F.T. divisions: Bay, Tarpon, and Offshore. Bay boats are required to return to their berths each night; offshore boats are allowed to stay out overnight while still adhering to tournament fishing start and stop times. A complete list of tournament rules is available at www.tift.org.
Spectators are welcome to watch from covered stands at the dock at Southpoint Marina in Port Isabel, TX as the catches of the day are brought in Friday, July 30, 2pm – 8pm, and Saturday, July 31, 2pm – 7pm. Anglers will show off impressive catches such as blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish from the Off Shore Division; and speckled trout, redfish, and flounder for bay anglers.
Junior anglers bringing in everything from single piggy perch to impressive stringers of catches is as exciting as watching the big fish being brought in. Every child registered in the tournament is awarded a trophy for their participation.
The history of the Texas International Fishing Tournament dates back to 1933 when Doc J.A. Hockaday designed the tournament to showcase the amazing fishing opportunities the Rio Grande Valley has to offer. T.I.F.T.’s mission continues to be to provide a quality, family-oriented fishing tournament for anglers of all ages. The tournament’s Executive Board strives to achieve this goal each year with planning taking place immediately following the tournament awards ceremony Sunday, Aug 1, 2021 at the South Padre Island Convention Center.
T.I.F.T. is not only a wonderful family event, the non-profit organization gives back to student volunteers each year by awarding scholarships. Twenty-two academic scholarships, in addition to the Mike Baldree Memorial Scholarship, were awarded to local students in 2020.
T.I.F.T. Executive Board reminds everyone to take part in recommended health safety practices, while enjoying the 81st Annual Texas International Fishing Tournament. With that in mind, the ever-popular Play Day will look a little different this year. More details forthcoming on the T.I.F.T. website.
Follow the excitement of the 81st Annual Texas International Fishing Tournament on social media and utilize the hashtags: #FishTIFT #TIFT2020 #SouthPadreIsland and #SoPadre on Facebook: facebook.com/FishTIFT/ ; Twitter: @FishTIFT ; Instagram: @FishTIFT.
 each summer for over 80 years. Excitement is building for the summer 2021 event since the 2020 tournament was postponed.){kind=link}