Sponsored by the Homestead Hospital Foundation, the event raised $58,000 for children’s services at the new Homestead Hospital, under construction and scheduled to open late this year east of the Florida Turnpike off Campbell Drive.

Horsley landed all seven of the eligible species – bass/drum, snook, tarpon, bonefish, redfish, trout and snapper – to win the overall championship. Denkert caught five of the eligible species, failing to catch a bass/drum or bonefish.

“This competition continues to attract anglers from all over the country,” said Lloyd Wruble, DMD, the event’s chairman. “This year’s event raised the most money in the seven years the competition has existed.”

The Herman Lucerne Memorial Backcountry Fishing Competition drew 36 boats and 71 anglers.

The fundraising event was renamed this year from the Herman Lucerne Memorial to also pay tribute to Rudy Gossman Jr., DMD, immediate past chief of the Homestead Hospital medical staff who died in an accident last year while cleaning up debris from Hurricane Wilma. Presented by Dynalectric and supported by several other sponsors, the fundraising event included a family barbecue dinner and auction, reception and an awards banquet.

“Rudy was a key part of our committee, helping us with everything from designing and maintaining the event web site to competing as an angler,” said Dr. Wruble. “It’s fitting that the event now honors his memory as well.”

Anglers from Homestead dominated the winnings for the largest species. The anglers who won trophies for catching the largest species were: Steve Pelt of Homestead, 14” bass; Thomas Trotta of Miami Shores, 34” black drum; Brenton Berry of Homestead, 31.5” bonefish; Alan Cockerham of Islamorada, 32” redfish; Robert Binder of Homestead, 19.5” snapper; Bo Boulenger of Homestead, 35” snook; Benny Blanco of Miami, 61” tarpon; and Mike Makowski of Key Largo, 24” trout.

Other anglers honored for their catches included Top Guided Team of Tony Horsley and Captain Mark Gilman of Tavernier; Top Non-guided Team of Robert Collins of Naples and Jim Trice; Guided Fly Division Winner Ron Baker of Miami; Guided Artificial Division Winner Nick Nicolosi of Hackensack, New Jersey; Guided General Winner Barry Shevlin of Bay Harbor Islands; Non-guided Fly Division Winner Jason Swensson of Key Largo; Non-guided Artificial Division Winner Brian Esposito of Pompano Beach; Non-guided General Division Winner Robert Collins; and Top Guide Dave Denkert of Tavernier.

In addition to Dr. Gossman, the backcountry competition honors the memory of Herman Lucerne, a devoted fisherman and community activist of Homestead and Florida City. An outdoorsman who knew every mangrove island in Everglades National Park, Lucerne fished with Joe DiMaggio, Jimmy Hoffa, John Pennekamp and Dante Fascell.

A former mayor of Florida City, he was also a founder of Fish and Game Unlimited in Homestead. He was a member of the Miami Beach Rod and Reel Club and was a winner of the Hyman Trophy of the Metropolitan South Florida Fishing Tournament. A resident of Florida City from 1945 until he died while protecting his home during Hurricane Andrew, Lucerne devoted much of his time to teaching children how to fish.

Led by Dr. Wruble, the volunteer committee members who organized the event included Pat Fordyce, Rob Fordyce, Catherine Fordyce, Kristina Gossman, Kent Hamill, Ron Hill, Dan Howard, Cliff Kunde, Honson Lau, Carlos Larocca, M.D., Bob Royall and Cheryl Culberson-Royall, Rich Smith, Paul Soulé, Skip Soulé, Dave and Julie Sutton, Rae Wruble and Rick & Kathy Murphy.

Homestead Hospital Foundation is a part of Baptist Health South Florida Foundation, which oversees the fundraising activities for all the hospitals affiliated with Baptist Health South Florida.