When the largest bay and salt water fishing tournament in Texas gets underway Aug.1 on South Padre Island and in Port Isabel, you can bet the fish in the Bay and Gulf will be nervous. Or they would be if they knew anything about fishing tournaments. For 69 years now Texas International Fishing Tournament (T.I.F.T.) has brought big time fishing competition to the lower coast of Texas and as each year passes it seems the event only gets bigger and better. With over 1,500 competitors last year and more expected this year, the event it was of the grandfatherattractions of South Texas. A unique fishing competition that embraces all age groups in both bay and offshore divisions, the contest has the reputation of being wholesome, profitable for the local economy, and a benevolent contributor to youth education programs throughout the area. There’s always so much to report about this successful event, But leading the way this year is the award of new and special trophy. According to the T.I.F.T. official online program, the newest member of TIFT’s perpetual trophy family is the Fritz Bergh Memorial Trophy, which will be awarded to the angler catching the first reported billfish of the tournament. The perpetual honors a man who devoted years of his life to TIFT, serving as President in 1968 and 1969 and as a member of the Advisory Board until his death. Fritz was also honored during the 56th TIFT as the tournament’s special guest and was an avid offshore fisherman. His love for the tournament is something he passed down to his children and grandchildren and daughter, Maria Elena, was the official TIFT hostess in 1991. His wife, Ana, served on numerous tournament committees as well. Fritz was also a charter member of the South Texas Big Game Fishing Club and it was during a club tournament that he caught a blue marlin that provided his entry into the prestigious “500 Club”—consisting of Texans who have boated a blue weighing 500 pounds or more off the Texas coast. The bronze sculpture by artist Bodo Muche of Queensland, Australia is entitled “Gladiators of the Sea” and depicts the ultimate battle between man and fish. It was a memorial tribute to Fritz from fellow fishing buddies Tom & Yuri Shiba. Sadly, Tom is also no longer with us. Upon the death of Tom Shiba, the trophy was to be donated to TIFT to honor Fritz--a man who lived to fish aboard his beloved “Anticipation”. In 1994, Fritz said he would like to see his name on the tournament’s perpetual blue marlin trophy one more time, after achieving that honor in 1981. That did not happen, but Fritz Bergh will be remembered every year when the new perpetual is presented at the Sunday Awards Ceremonies. After the tournament, the Fritz Bergh Memorial Trophy will be on display along with the rest of the collection at the Port Isabel Historical Museum. TIFT runs Ag.1-5 on South Padre Island. For more information, log on to http://tift.org.