Last year, the "Four Carpenters" -- Delaney Hayes, Lizzy Christy, Abigail Warner, and Morgan Whitman, all of Canton -- paid respect to the tradition of kissing a caught carp before returning it to the river.

WADDINGTON — Registration remains open but only a few spots remain for the 2015 St. Lawrence International Junior Carp Tournament, the annual event for boys and girls ages 11 to 18.

Co-hosted by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and CAG (Carp Anglers Group), the catch-and-release tournament is happening Aug. 20-22. More than 100 young anglers will fish a roughly 30-mile stretch of the St. Lawrence from Massena to Ogdensburg, and vie for cash awards and prizes.

To date, more than 50 percent of the kids who are registered are in the 11- to 14-year-old competitor group, a good sign for the future of carp fishing and the tournament. And, the most registrants to date are girls ages 11 to 14. Lindsay Remington of Lisbon, a former tournament angler who “aged out” of the competition, is this year’s Grand Marshal.

The entry fee remains the same as last year, $100 per angler. Contestants register to fish individually, and can also register to fish as part of a two- , three- or four-person team. Parents or guardians can sign up to fish, too.

Registration covers participation in all tournament-related events during the three days, including the pre-tournament fishing school sponsored by Mort Backus & Sons. All carp caught during the tournament are returned live to the St. Lawrence River.

Local businesses and individuals are sponsoring some anglers, and three of those sponsorships remain available. Anyone who would like to sponsor an angler, or who knows of a youngster who needs sponsorship, should call or email Jo Ann Roberts, events manager for the County Chamber, at 386-4000, jroberts@stlawrencecountychamber.org.

The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce began the tournament in 2003. CAG will officially take over the tournament as of 2016. The Chamber will continue to play a key role this summer, to assist in the transition.

“Local CAG members have always been instrumental in the tournament,” Chamber Executive Director Brooke Rouse said. “It makes sense, now, for an established group that is dedicated to catch-and-release carp fishing to host the largest and longest-running junior carp fishing tournament in the U.S.”

Noted carp angler Robert Giordano of Chase Mills, who has been a key volunteer for the Junior Carp Tournament, is currently president of CAG. “Our mission includes promoting catch-and-release carp fishing to kids,” he said. “With the Junior Carp Tournament, it has been incredibly rewarding to see the excitement and camaraderie that develops bank side as these young people get to know about the fish, fishing, and each other. The tournament is a perfect fit for CAG.”

For more information or to download a registration form, go to the county chamber’s website, www.northcountryguide.com/Visiting/Fishing/JuniorCarpTournament, or call the chamber at 386-4000.

Major sponsors for the 2015 tournament include Akwesasne Mohawk Casino, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Mort Backus & Sons, and Pepsi-Cola Ogdensburg Bottlers, along with ARES / RACES, CAG, Casella Waste, Coach’s Corner Bar & Grill, Great Northern Printing, Kunoco IGA, Mike’s Trophies, North Country Savings Bank, Slic Network Solutions, Time Warner Cable, Waddington Chamber of Commerce, Wild Carp Companies, One on Baits, City of Ogdensburg, Fort la Presentation, Madrid-Waddington Central School, New York Power Authority, Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority, Tom and Christy Snider, Town of Louisville, Town of Waddington, Village of Waddington, Horsefeathers Haunts, Howland Pump & Supply, Inc., Save-a-Lot, Twin Bridges/Jrecks, Buster’s Sports Bar, SeaComm FCU, Massena Savings & Loan, NNY Outdoor Magazine, Potsdam Specialty Paper, Michelle Quinell-Gayle, and Brenda LaBrake.