The 15th annual GollyWhopper Classic fishing tournament recently honored late Mexico Beach Mayor Al Cathey with a scholarship donation following his passing in May. The event, which drew over 110 boats, highlighted Cathey’s lasting legacy through emotional wins by his family and special tribute categories.
"My inspiration is that I believe strongly in our little town,” Cathey told WFSU Public Media in an interview in 2020, two years after Hurricane Michael devastated the Forgotten Coast. “I believe in the people that are here, that we all have a common cause to keep what we have. And I'm very proud to be a part of that. Very proud.”
Cathey, who had lived in town since he was five-years-old, was determined not to sell out to the developers and speculators that swarmed into the area after the storm.
"The strength that I had to stand my ground for the city, definitely came from my upbringing," Cathey said. "On my watch, we weren’t going to change who we are.”
That strength and resilience was on display during the GollyWhopper Fishing Tournament where Cathey was honored for his contributions to the city.
Cathey was the former weigh master and a founder of the Tournament, and this year, his grandson finished first in the youth grouper category and Al Cathey’s son Lee Cathey’s team set a tournament record for the largest grouper caught.
“To set the record at the GollyWhopper, a tournament he helped start, is really, really special,” said Brian Cathey, growing emotional.
This year’s tournament featured three categories including a special target weight section of 11.20, which was Al Cathey’s birthday. Also this year– a portion of the entrance fee went to a scholarship in Cathey’s name. Brian Cathey said his family has been touched by the community’s support.
“I grew up in this community, I was raised here," he said, "My father was raised here. Our family has been here since the inception of Mexico Beach. My great uncle dug this canal.”
In addition to the scholarship, part of the proceeds raised by the tournament go to the volunteer firefighters in Mexico Beach fire department.
“The community here and the surrounding fishermen here and the people from Alabama and Georgia who come down to support this are just great people," said local fire chief Sandy Walker, who helped with the weigh-in.
"They make this [tournament] what it is and is why it’s been growing for the past 15 years,” he said.
Growing community was a priority for Al Cathey and Mexico Beach Community Development council President Kimberly Shoaf said the event allows for the tight-knit community to all come together.
"Whether they are fishing in it or just volunteering, they want to make sure this tournament does well. [And] this tournament does well because it’s another staple to show how great Mexico Beach is for a destination to not only get people to come here and fish, but to come here and make this their home,” she said.
This year’s tournament generated more than $36,000 in prizes with over 110 boats participating. The Al Cathey Leadership Through Service Scholarship will be awarded to a senior from Port St. Joe High School.
And for those who may not know what a GollyWhopper is…well, it’s something exceptionally large. Like the legacy of Al Cathey, or a really, really big fish.
