On the sunny afternoon of Saturday, August 3, day one of the first annual 2024 South Shore Bass Open team fishing tournament was held at the Hammond Marina. 36 boats – each manned by a team of two anglers – were registered in the tournament. Each team was determined to bring in the heaviest catch and win the $7,000 grand prize. Horseshoe Casino and South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority (CVA) were both sponsors of this event.
Honor Flight Chicago and UnkEJigs had tables set up, ready to tell passing attendees about their services and products. The spectators enjoyed the delicious tacos and tamales served up by Las Mamacitas Taco Truck and the ice cold beer, soda, and water from a nearby tent. As the spectators looked on, the anglers rode golf carts directly from the docks to a parking lot where their catches were weighed on a stage in front of their friends, family, and other attendees. The anglers would pose for photos with their fish as the crowd cheered them on. Dennis Banik, tournament director and founder of the South Shore Bass Open, is satisfied with the way the tournament’s inaugural run has turned out.
“This event showcases what bass tournament fishing is all about,” Banik said. “It also showcases the excellent fishing that the southern end of Lake Michigan has to offer. This is a truly beautiful marina and the fact that it’s located right next to the Horseshoe Casino, our primary sponsor, makes it the ideal location for this event. It’s also in close proximity to Chicago, which is great. I’ve talked with the anglers, and they feel that our inaugural year has been a success. It's all about making the anglers happy and getting the public out here to enjoy some good food, good music, and to help support what we’re doing.”
This year, the South Shore Bass Open ultimately raised over $3,500 for several charities, including Northwest Indiana (NWI) First Responder Peer Support Group, the Ronald McDonald House, Wounded Warrior Project, and Honor Flight Chicago – one of the vendors at the tournament. Daniel Diombala, another Hammond firefighter and co-tournament director, appreciates the opportunity to produce a community event like the South Shore Bass Open.
“I enjoy the challenge of organizing an event like this,” Diombala said. “I really enjoy bringing this many people together to support something positive and have fun. Hopefully, everyone will tell their friends about the tournament and be excited about coming back next year. Dennis and I can't thank South Shore CVA, the Hammond Marina, the City of Hammond, and Horseshoe Casino enough for all they have done because this tournament would not have been possible without them. We want to involve even more charities and community members next year and eventually build this into an event that attracts people from across the country.”
As the anglers weighed their catches and shared their thoughts about the day’s fishing, DJ Mike Green from Meangreen Entertainment set the mood with a variety of tunes, including “Sultans of Swing”' by the Doors and “Hard to Handle” by the Black Crowes.
Jimmy Nelson, director of sports at South Shore CVA, believes that this tournament will benefit the Region significantly.
“As the director of sports, I got excited when I heard that a couple of local firemen were putting together an event that’s new to this area,” Nelson said. “This event has already drawn hundreds of people from throughout the area and I hope it makes them proud to be residents of the Region. Holding a big bass fishing tournament here is a great way to exhibit Lake Michigan, one of the Region’s greatest assets. The Hammond Marina, the City of Hammond, and the Horseshoe Casino have all gone above and beyond in their efforts to make this event shine and reach its fullest potential. South Shore CVA is the premier marketing destination for Northwest Indiana and our team will use the footage and photos from this year’s tournament to put together a fantastic marketing campaign for the next installment.”
The anglers looked forward to day two of the event on August 4, optimistic that the combined weight of both of their catches will be enough for them to win out over the competition and take the prize money home.
You can learn more about South Shore CVA’s upcoming projects and events by visiting southshorecva.com.