FOR CATCH AND RELEASE

Fans Will Fill the Stands for this Fishy Tourney

WELLS, Maine, April 1, 2016 — Even though New England teams were shut out of the Sweet Sixteen, there’s still no shortage of enthusiasm among the region’s faithful fans.

Friends and staff of four National Estuarine Research Reserves — Wells, Great Bay, Waquoit, and Narragansett —are expected to line the banks of the Little River over the weekend for a fishy Final Four. The annual event, dubbed “Bleachers on the Estuary,” is sponsored this year by the Wells Reserve at Laudholm.

“It just doesn’t get any better than Marsh Madness,” gushed the reserve’s gizmo guy Jeremy Miller.

“I’ve already filled out my brackish,” boasted reserve executive defector Paul Dest, drinking deeply from his mug of plankton-infused sea water. “Sea-run Brookies all the way!”

Dest was interrupted by shouts of “Go Sticklebacks!” and “Come on, Tomcods!” Many had hooked their hopes to the underdog Mummichogs, but when they met the slippery American Eels in an earlier round it was inevitable the minnows would be lost.

“Come on guys, this is serious,” chided river afishionado Jacob Aman while shaking a giant foam lobster claw. “Some of these fish travel hundreds of miles to reach this point. They need all the support they can get, no matter what their species.”

“What’s that?” blurted Mort Blather, an old cod-ger who had trouble herring over the raucous reservists.

The weekend promises excitement and upset. So often, teams smelt victory but flounder in the final moments.

The event is open to all and spectators are expected from far and wide. Sturgeons often bring their alewives to sit creekside, while grubby sculpins fill the bleachers. Tickets are available at Poisson d’Avril boutiques throughout the region. For more information, visit wellsreserve.org.

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Bleachers photo CC-BY-SA 4.0 by Pavel Ševela / Wikimedia Commons