Year 1 Recap
The 1st Annual JSG143 Memorial Fishing Tournament exceeded every expectation. Here's a look back at what we built together in honor of Jon Grimm.
When we set out to organize the 1st Annual JSG143 Memorial Fishing Tournament, we hoped to bring together a small group of Jon's people — friends, family, fellow fishermen — to honor his memory and raise a little money for a cause that mattered to him. What happened instead was something none of us fully anticipated.
We doubled our expected turnout. Then some. With 117 anglers registered and over 150 people at the awards ceremony — more than twice what we projected for a first-year tournament — the JSG143 became an instant South Shore tradition. Every one of those registrations was a vote of confidence in Jon's legacy and in this community.
Together, we raised $13,747 for Movember Men's Health Suicide Prevention in Jon's name — between registration fees, shirt sales, and direct contributions inspired by the day. $2,340 went to prize money for the top three anglers who showed up and fished hard. Year 1 was everything we could have asked for. Year 2 is going to be something else.
September 12th delivered the kind of day you draw up in your head when you plan a fishing tournament. Mostly clear skies, temperatures in the low 70s by mid-morning, a light breeze off the water, and zero rain. The South Shore showed up for Jon in every way — the conditions were perfect, the fish were moving, and the energy on the water was exactly what we hoped it would be.
Lines went in at 6 AM with the tide riding low and the sun just clearing the horizon. By the time the morning flood was running strong, the reports were already coming in. It was a September Saturday on the South Shore at its absolute finest — the kind of day Jon would have been out there before everyone else, coffee in hand, already into fish.
When the lines came in at 4 PM, the tournament moved to where it was always supposed to end up — the American Legion Post 118 on Summer Street in Cohasset. And what a night it was.
Over 150 people filled the American Legion — anglers, families, and friends of Jon's who came to celebrate the day and the man it was built around. There was pizza, cold drinks, raffle prizes, and the kind of energy that only happens when a community comes together around something that really means something. Stories were told. Laughs were shared. Jon's name was said more than once with a smile.
The trophy presentation capped off the evening — but the real prize was the room itself. Over 150 people who showed up for Jon, for mental health awareness, and for a tradition that's only going to grow from here. The Legion was the perfect home for it. We'll be back.
None of this comes together without the right people. A sincere thank you to everyone who gave their time and energy to make the 1st Annual JSG143 a success.
Between registration fees, tournament shirt sales, and direct contributions inspired by the day, the JSG143 raised $13,747 for Movember Men's Health Suicide Prevention in Jon's name. This is what the JSG143 is about.
Prize amounts reflect $10 per registered angler to 1st, $6 to 2nd, and $4 to 3rd — paid out from the 117-angler field.
Year 1 taught us something important: our anglers know how to catch fish. The submission photos told a different story. Between the early morning light, the excitement of a big catch, and the clock ticking toward the 4 PM deadline, photo quality varied — and a few catches that might have placed higher didn't make it onto the board the way they deserved to.
For Year 2, we'll be sending out a clear photo guide before tournament day — full fish on a flat surface, measuring tape visible, timestamp on. The fish are out there. Let's make sure the photos do them justice.
The 1st Annual JSG143 Memorial Tournament would not have been possible without the generosity and support of our sponsors and partners. These are the people and organizations that showed up for Jon, for the South Shore, and for the cause.
What started as a tribute to one man's love of the water has become a South Shore tradition. The 2nd Annual JSG143 Memorial Fishing Tournament will be bigger, better, and even more of a celebration of Jon's legacy. Stay tuned for dates and registration details.
Support Movember in the meantime ↗