Shelter Island’s Snapper Derby

Ever want to fish with your friends and family for a good cause and have a good time? Then you should come on down to the annual Shelter Island Snapper Derby. Each Labor Day weekend, friends and family get together and go fishing around the island. Here are a few reasons why you should come to the Snapper Derby.

The rules of the Snapper Derby are fun and easy. Everyone is allowed to fish all day. You have to bring your fish to the Shelter Island American Legion to get weighed at 5 p.m. You will see a big tent with lots of people in it. When my fish gets weighed my smile gets bigger and bigger. They write down how many pounds it is because they have to see who the winner is going to be. After they are done weighing your fish you get to pick any Snapper Derby T-shirt you want.

On the back of the shirt there is a list of all the names of people who donated money to the Snapper Derby. All the money collected at the Snapper Derby gets donated to people or animals in need. After you take a T-shirt, there is another station where you can get your fish cooked. I personally always give the fish to my cats. Under the tent there is a whole display of food and beverages like popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs, sodas, water and more. You get to socialize with your friends and family until they announce who the winners are.

The biggest blue fish at the Snapper Derby was 12 pounds and the biggest snapper was 2 pounds. Wow! The Snapper Derby has been going on for about 14 years. About 200 people enter each year. This year they want people to enter videos of themselves in the derby.

I hope this Labor Day weekend you consider coming to the Snapper Derby. Visit nwsdy.li/snapper for more info.