EOB Fishing Derby

Earl O'Brien Memorial Fishing Derby

All net proceeds support child life programs at children’s hospitals in Michigan.

2025 Main Event: Thursday, May 22
Chinook Pier, Grand Haven, Michigan

Additional charters available in June and July, by sponsor preference and/or Patient VIP need.

Derby sponsors are assigned to professional charter boats for a morning of exciting salmon fishing on Lake Michigan. Each boat holds up to six participants, and sponsors can invite anyone they wish — family, friends, employees or customers. Sponsors can also donate their boat to “VIPs”, Very Important Patients of children’s hospitals.

Sponsorships must be received and all boat participants registered no later than two weeks in advance of event. Boats are chartered and assigned based on paid sponsor request whenever possible.

Participants must register in advance — all fish tags, giveaways and morning refreshments will be on the dock for participants to pick up as they arrive. Boats depart at 6:00 a.m. and return at 12:00 p.m. Tagged fish are weighed and processed while lunch is served. A Grand Prize is awarded for the largest fish in Sponsor and Patient VIP categories, additional prizes are awarded by drawing fish tags.

Inclement weather:  Our charter captains make the call in the morning if the weather is not suitable for their boat. Unless travel is unsafe, sponsors and participants should come to Chinook Pier—in the event their assigned charter cancels, participants may set up a different day and time to fish with their captain.

Eligibility to Participate and Win Prizes:  Participants aboard boats may include only paid sponsors and their registered guests OR patient VIPs and their chaperones, plus designated reporters or photographers. All participants must register in advance and are eligible to receive giveaways. All paid sponsor guests are eligible to win prizes, including employees, volunteers, members, and friends or families of sponsors, beneficiaries, Kiwanis, charters or other organizations or entities. Patient VIPs age 17 and under are eligible to win prizes; adult chaperones are not eligible.

New for 2023: Sponsors and VIPs may request to fish on a separate day than the main event. Participants can request their favorite captain, arrange a day and time that works for them, or even fish from a completely different port! Participants will still be able to win prizes — available prizes will vary based on donations, some contests may be announced on Facebook and prizes mailed to winners after all charters have taken place.

[Click here for complete Fishing Derby rules]


Earl O’Brien — founder and “Grand Admiral”

Earl O’Brien (Sep 11, 1937 – Nov 4, 2019) spent his life creating opportunities for kids to enjoy sports and life, even if disadvantaged, disabled, or dealing with catastrophic disease. In 2005 Earl launched an offshore fishing tournament benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and was instrumental in keeping the tournaments going and focused on the needs of hospitalized children through the years. He truly lived the Kiwanis mission of “improving the world one child and one community at a time.” [ObituaryGrand Haven Tribune Article]

The video tribute below includes photos of Earl and the fishing tournaments through the years, narrated by Earl himself from an interview on the WGHN Sunday Morning Forum in 2011. We are proud to continue his legacy.


EOB Fishing Contact Form

Contact the EOB Fishing Derby Committee

Name(Required)

Thank you to our
2024 SPONSORS and DONORS so far!

Chinook Sponsor
Metal Flow Corporation

Atlantic Sponsor
Premier Finishing Inc.

Coho Sponsor
Verplank Trucking Company
Seaver Finishing Companies
Quality Tool and Stamping

Patient VIP Sponsors and Donors
Centennial Securities Co.
Hansen-Balk Steel Treating Company / James & Shirley Balk Foundation
PVI Industrial Cleaning
Michigan Anglers Association
Kiwanis Club of Hillsdale
Westwind Construction & Development Inc.

Food Donors
Shoreline Insurance
Tyson Foods
Orchard Market
Flagship Restoration
Kenzie’s BE Cafe
Lakeshore Luxury Cruise
Timothy Kleyla, The Mortgage House

Patient VIP Accommodations
Best Western Beacon Inn
A South Lansing Kiwanis Club Member
Holiday Inn Spring Lake

Prizes and VIP Gifts
The O’Brien Family
The Book Cellar
Lake Effect Phone Repair
Marushka 
Electric Hero
Meijer
Fairlife
Great Harvest Bread Co.
Tri-Cities Credit Union
Fortino’s
Brenda Sanagusta
Saginaw Thomas Foundation
Ellen Eich
Jadex Strategic Group

Event Permit and Fees
The City of Grand Haven
The Oakes Agency

Thank you to our
2023 SPONSORS and DONORS

Chinook Sponsor (including VIP)
Metal Flow Corporation

Coho Sponsor
Premier Finishing Inc.
Seaver Finishing Companies
Quality Tool and Stamping Co.
PVI Industrial Washing, Inc.
Verplank Trucking Company
Suburban Inns

Patient VIP Donors and Sponsors
Hansen-Balk Steel Treating Company / James & Shirley Balk Foundation
Centennial Securities Co.
Michigan Anglers Association
Kiwanis Club of Hillsdale
Westwind Construction & Development, Inc.
Detroit Kiwanis Club #1

Food Donors
Shoreline Insurance
Tyson Foods
Orchard Market
Flagship Restoration

Prize and VIP Gift Donors
Grace Stanton
The Book Cellar
JWs 
Barefoot Dave’s
Marushka 
Toasted Pickle 
Vintage Green
Guitar Haven

Thank you to our
2022 SPONSORS and DONORS

Chinook Sponsors (including VIP)
Metal Flow Corporation
Muskegon Conservation Club

Atlantic Sponsor (VIP)
Rand Logistics “Marine Miracle Month” / Verplank Trucking

Coho Sponsors
Premier Finishing Inc.
Verplank Trucking Company
Seaver Finishing
Quality Tool & Stamping Co.
PVI Industrial Washing, Inc.

Patient VIP Donors and Sponsors
Centennial Securities Co.
Hansen/Balk Steel Treating Co. (Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Sponsor)
Michigan Anglers Association: In memory of Tom and Jan Hamilton.
Grace F. Stanton
Westwind Construction
Members of Hillsdale Kiwanis
Dee Hudson
Scott E DeBoer Memorial Fund

Prize and VIP Gift Donors
David Garland
Gary and Bev Surratt
Dr. Gary Robertson
Ellen Eich
Grace Stanton
West Michigan Nutrition
JW’s Food & Spirits
Tlaquepaque Art and Decor
Grand Haven Vinegar and Oil
Kilwins Grand Haven
The Book Cellar

Food Donors
Shoreline Insurance
Tyson Foods
Biggby Coffee
Orchard Market
Flagship Restoration
Grace Stanton
Caledonia Kiwanis Club

VIP Accommodations
Best Western Beacon Inn

Thank you to our
2021 SPONSORS and DONORS

Chinook Sponsors (including VIP sponsorship)
Muskegon Conservation Club
Metal Flow Corporation

Patient VIP Atlantic Sponsor
Hansen-Balk Steel Treating Co.

Coho Sponsors
KPR of Allegan
Verplank Trucking Company
Premier Finishing Inc.
Quality Tool & Stamping Co., Inc.
Steve and Sandy Moreland

Patient VIP Coho Sponsors
Active Manufacturing Corp.
Milo & Abby DeVries
Centennial Securities Co.
NOCH Medical Staff

Additional Patient VIP Donors
Westwind Construction
Scott E. DeBoer Memorial Fund
Shape Corporation
R.A. Miller Industries, Inc.
Consumers Energy Foundation, Ryan Schmoekel
BMC Bil-Mac Corporation
Diane House

Prize Donors
Freedom Boat Club of West Michigan
Mercury Store & Lock
Magnum Coffee
M. Gary Robertson, MD
Sandy Katt
@Home Realty, Steve Hass
Sarah Vanelzelingen
Sweet Temptations
Ellen Eich
Coldwell Banker Schmidt, Melissa Heyer

Food and Accommodation Donors
Best Western Beacon Inn
Shoreline Insurance
Tyson Foods
Orchard Market
Flagship Restoration
Tri-Cities Kiwanians


Thank you to our
2020 SPONSORS and DONORS

Angel+ Donor
Rand Logistics “Marine Miracle Month” / Verplank Trucking

Star Sponsors
KPR of Allegan
Premier Finishing, Inc.
Verplank Trucking
Steve and Sandy Moreland
Suburban Inns

Silver Sponsors
Midwest Juice Inc. of Michigan

Patient VIP Sponsors
Centennial Securities Co.
Hansen-Balk Steel Treating Co.
Michigan Anglers Association
NOCHS Medical Staff
Milo and Abby DeVries
Scott E. DeBoer Memorial Fund
BMC Bil-Mac Corporation

Donors in honor of Earl O’Brien
Midwest Juice Inc. of Michigan
Peter Beukema

Patient VIP Donors in honor of Tom Hamilton
Amanda Dyer
Barry Matthews
Raymond Schinler

Food, Prizes and Other Contributions
Shape Corporation
F. Martin and Dorothy A. Johnson Family Fund
Shoreline Insurance Agency
Terrill Financial Group LLC
Oakes Agency, Inc.
Ellen Eich
Roger and Sandra Katt
Rick and Karen Meads


Thank you to our
2019 SPONSORS and DONORS

Double Angel+
Metal Flow Corporation

Angel+ Donor
Rand Logistics “Marine Miracle Month” / Verplank Trucking

Double Star+
KPR of Allegan

Double Hope
Suburban Inns

Hope Sponsor
Hansen-Balk

Star Sponsors
Automatic Spring Products Corp
Premier Finishing, Inc.
Verplank Trucking
PVI Industrial Washing, Inc.
Quality Tool & Stamping
Lily Products of Michigan, Inc.

Silver Sponsors
Midwest Juice
Dr. Doublestein

Patient VIP Sponsors
Active Manufacturing
Global Concepts Enterprise, Inc.
Centennial Securities
Milo R. DeVries
North Ottawa Medical Staff
Muskegon Conservation Club
Michigan Anglers Association
Westwind Construction & Development
Dr. Doublestein
Scott DeBoer Memorial Fund
Dyna-Plate, Inc.

Donors
Shape Corp.
BMC Bil-Mac Corporation
Michigan Anglers Association
Roger and Sandra Katt

Food Donors
Arturo’s Tacos
Tyson Foods
The Cookie Lady
Shoreline Insurance Agency
Wesco
Panera Bread
Orchard Market
Terrill Financial Group, LLC
Sweet Temptations
Old Boys Brewhouse
Roger and Sandra Katt
Preferred Auto Dealerships
Taco Bell (sporks!)
Tri-Cities Kiwanis Members
Additional equipment support from:
Elks Lodge # 1200
Eagles FOE 925
Flagship Restoration
Compass Design

Prize Donors
Sea Flea Charters
Reel Action Charters
Lakeshore Law & Mediation Center PLC
Centennial Securities
Magnum Coffee
Hitman Charters
Tammy Too Charters
Jay’s Sporting Goods
Chicago Title
Best Western Beacon Inn
Melissa Heyer
Chemical Bank
MACkite
Porto Bello
Tri-Cities Kiwanis Members

Accommodations for Patients
Best Western Beacon Inn

Text