Inaugural Battle of the Bayou Fishing Tournament Begins April 23

Get your lines ready—something exciting is coming to SoWal: the first-ever Battle of the Bayou Fishing Tournament, benefiting Point Washington Medical Clinic - it's a brand-new fundraising event benefiting the free, volunteer-driven primary care clinic serving uninsured and underinsured residents across the Florida Panhandle.

Get tickets/register online.

The event includes a week-long fishing tournament and Poker Run, with festivities kicking off April 25th through May 2nd. Early Registration is open now through April 15. 

This unique series of events casts a “wide net” for all anglers, individuals, teams, and anyone who loves the water and wants to support a great cause in the clinic and the families it serves. Battle of the Bayou begins with a mandatory captain’s meeting on April 23rd from 6-8 pm at Point Washington Medical Clinic followed with a week of fishing (from any spot) on Saturday, April 25th through Saturday, May 2nd, in addition to a Poker Run on May 2nd, culminating in the Awards and Weigh-In Celebration.  

Early bird tickets are $100 per angler and $250 per boat before April 15th, then $150/$300 after April 15th available at  www.givebutter.com/battle-of-the-bayou-2026-mwrlmi. Each registration includes a swag bag, measuring device, dry bag and chance to win prizes. Prizes will be awarded for Redfish, Trout, Bass, Triple Tail, Flounder, Bream, the Trash Can Combo (Ladyfish, Catfish, Jackfish), and so much more.

The “Poker Run” on Saturday, May 2nd is designed for those who want to join the fun without competing in the fishing tournament. Participants will go to designated checkpoints across the water, including The Village Of Baytowne Wharf, Freeport Marina, and Nick's Seafood, where they will collect a playing card at each stop and compete for a “best-hand” prize at the Weigh-In Celebration that evening. Poker Run-only tickets are $100 and include a food ticket for 4 people.

The week of fishing will end with an Awards and Weigh-In Celebration on Saturday, May 2nd, from 3–10 pm at Point Washington Medical Clinic complete with a low country boil by Buddy’s Seafood, slow smoke from Back Beach BBQ and live music by The Casey Kearney Band and Ronnie McBrayer and the Backsliders. Celebration-only tickets are available for $25 for those who just want to enjoy the food, music, and fun.

“In the nine years since PWMC has been in operation, we are so proud to have provided almost $7 million in on-site healthcare services to the community in this special place we get to call home,” says Hillary Glenn, DNP, APRN, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Point Washington Medical Clinic. “By providing no-fee-for-service healthcare…only donations, we saved our community $8.7 million in averted ER visits in 2025 alone. Fundraisers like Battle of the Bayou are essential to helping PWMC continue to serve our community and others in their time of need.” 

For more information on purchasing tickets, getting involved, or inquiring about sponsorships, contact Jackie Ward at jackie@thepwmc.org.

Team Anglers
Load up the boat and bring your best crew of up to 4 anglers—it's time to compete for a great cause! Boat team registration includes full tournament participation for your entire team from April 26th through May 2nd, plus entry to our inaugural waterfront celebration and weigh-in party featuring live music and a Lowcountry Boil by Buddy's Seafood. Together, your team's entry directly fuels Point Washington Medical Clinic's mission of providing free, compassionate primary care to neighbors across the Florida Panhandle who need it most.

Individual Angler
One angler. One week on the water. One cause worth fighting for. Register as an individual angler and join us for Point Washington Medical Clinic's first-ever Battle of the Bayou Fishing Tournament! Your registration includes entry into the weeklong tournament beginning April 26th, plus access to the waterfront weigh-in celebration on May 2nd featuring a Lowcountry Boil by Buddy's Seafood, Slow Smoked by Back Beach BBQ, and live music from The Casey Kearney Band and The Ronnie McBrayer Band. Every entry directly supports free healthcare for uninsured and underinsured residents across the Florida Panhandle.

Poker Run Team
Not a fisherman? No problem! Join in on the fun with our Poker Run Only Team ticket and enjoy a full day on the water without the early morning lines. Navigate to a series of designated checkpoints throughout the day, collecting a playing card at each stop. At the end of the run, your five-card hand is your ticket to prizes—pure luck, pure fun. No rod, no tackle, no worries!
Your Poker Run Only ticket includes:

•     Full poker run participation—visit all checkpoints and compete for the best hand prize
•     Up to 4 meals at our end-of-day Weigh-In Celebration, where you'll join the full tournament field to eat, celebrate, and see who reeled in the big catches of the day

The boat holding the best poker hand at the end of the run takes home a dedicated prize—meaning you can win big without ever casting a line! It's the perfect option for friends, family, and boating enthusiasts who want to be part of the action and the party—all while supporting the PWMC. Grab your crew and join us on the water—may the best hand win!

Non-Fisher Food & Drink Only
Not a fisherman but still want to be part of the fun? Join us for the waterfront celebration on May 2nd at 3 PM! This ticket includes access to the weigh-in party, a delicious Low Country Boil by Buddy's Seafood, drinks, and live music from The Casey Kearney Band and The Ronnie McBrayer Band. All proceeds support Point Washington Medical Clinic's mission of providing free healthcare to uninsured and underinsured residents across the Florida Panhandle.

The mission of Point Washington Medical Clinic (PWMC) is to build a stronger and healthier community by providing high-quality primary health care regardless of the patient’s means or access. By being volunteer-driven, PWMC’s own costs will be maintained at a substantially lower cost per patient than other providers.

It was a shared vision that, by implementing the free clinic model of low-cost, volunteer-driven medical care, we could maintain healthier workers and families, creating a stronger community. The goals of the PWMC are (1) to keep children in school, people at work, and ease the burden on local emergency rooms; and (2) to offer access to care for those vulnerable in our community.

Point Washington Medical Clinic is located at 1321 N Hwy. 395 in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, operating Mondays: 11am-5pm, Tuesdays: 10am-4pm, Wednesday: 7am-2pm and Thursdays 10am-4pm, closed on Fridays.