By Delaney Crawford
The Third Annual Flounder Tournament for the Jimmy Mullins Memorial Scholarship Fund is set to hit the back bays and ocean this Saturday, Aug. 1.
Upper Township resident, Jimmy Mullins was an avid fisherman and marine maintenance mechanic. After a work-related injury that led to his passing, his family, led by his mother, Bernadette Young, decided to create a scholarship in his honor to bring some positivity out of the tragedy.
She shared that he loved to fish and be out on the water. Fishing and being on boats were when Jimmy felt free of everything. The hope is that this tournament brings those same feelings to other fishermen in our area.
“The scholarship was made to help students that are looking to go into the marine maintenance field,” Young said. “We wanted to bring a little positivity to the field and for the students hoping to do what Jimmy did. This would also be something that Jimmy would have loved. He was the type of person that wanted to help anyone that crossed his path.”
A new Marine Maintenance program recently started at Cape May County Technical High School in September 2025. When the program was first getting started Young, with the scholarship fund and tournament proceeds, made a one-time donation to the classroom, providing essentials the program needed.
All proceeds from this year’s tournament and the non-profit will continue to fund scholarship awards for seniors graduating from the Marine Maintenance Program.
This year’s Flounder Tournament is expected to be even bigger than the past two years. With more young anglers, and plenty of returning competitors, it’s shaping up to be a great day, with a rain date already set for Sunday, Aug. 2.
Anglers are allowed to fish from the bridge, bay or ocean, with lines going in at 5 a.m. By 3 p.m., all competitors must head to one of the weigh-in stations at either Tight Lines Bait and Tackle, 830 Bay Ave. in Somers Point, or Boulevard Bait and Tackle, 535 Sea Isle City Blvd. in Ocean View. Once weigh-ins are complete, everyone is welcome to head to Tight Lines Bait & Tackle at 4 p.m. for the Awards After Party.
Anglers and supporters can expect great prizes. Young shared that many people come not only for the competition, but also for the community camaraderie and the opportunity to support both her son’s legacy and aspiring marine mechanics.
Prior to the event, a captain’s meeting will be held Friday, July 31, at 6 p.m. During the meeting, anglers will receive their free tournament T-shirts and review the rules to help ensure the event runs smoothly.
Any and all are welcome to join this year’s competition. Between longtime anglers or beginners, Young just hopes the tournament continues to bring the community together while creating opportunities for the next generation of marine maintenance professionals. Those interested in participating can register online at jimmymullinsmemorialscholarshipfund.com.
Delaney Crawford is a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and digital marketing. Driven by a desire to empower local businesses, Delaney founded DLC Media, a company dedicated to helping businesses enhance their brand image and thrive online.
