There is a code among those who venture out on the water that they are obliged to assist those who are in distress.

Since ancient times, masters of vessels were bound to assist those they encountered on the water who required assistance. Mariners, including we who go to the water to fish, are duty-bound stop to aid disabled boats and their crews.

And so it is that a flotilla of captains will set sail May 30 and 31 at Mosquito Lake. Their mission will be to skipper boats for U.S. military veterans who love to fish but have suffered spinal cord injuries during their service.

The event is the Buckeye Bash, a bass tournament organized by the Paralyzed Veterans of America Sports & Recreation team and sanctioned by the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society. The PVA pairs up boat captains with veterans to compete in the bass fishing event.

The PVA’s Jennifer Purser said the Buckeye Bash is one of six PVA bass tournaments this year, including those held in Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois and Maryland as part of its mission to support veterans with spinal cord injuries.

“We work to help veterans get back in sports and healthy living, both mentally and physically,” Purser said. “The bass tournaments get our veterans outdoors, on the water and help raise awareness in local communities.”

The PVA relies on local anglers who have fishing boats to help get the vets out on the water and into the competition. Mahoning County resident Terry Watson is one who volunteered to skipper a boat for a veteran this year. He has competed for many years on Mosquito and other waters and looks forward to the two days he will be hosting a PVA angler. When he learned about the PVA Buckeye Bash, he registered to help as a show of respect and gratitude for the service veterans.

“It is an honor to be able to assist,” Watson said. “Truth is, I’ll get as much out of it as I give. I am happy to be able to help.”

The Buckeye Bash weekend will begin with a dinner and boater-angler pairings the evening of May 29. The next day, the boat captains will take their PVA anglers out on Mosquito as they compete for individual honors. The PVA angler with the heaviest five-bass catch will be crowned the winner.

The Bash concludes May 31 with the skippers and anglers combining their talents to compete for the team championship.

The anglers also are competing for the 2026 season points championship, contested over the six events that also include bass meccas Lake Okeechobee in Florida and Eufaula in Oklahoma.

Purser reported 25 boats are registered for the Buckeye Bash. In addition, seven PVA anglers will compete in the bank-fishing contest at Hubbard Conservation Club that same weekend. She said the Buckeye Chapter of the PVA is arranging for prize packages for the competitors.

She said weigh-ins will begin around 3 p.m. May 30 and 31. Anglers and others interested in supporting military service veterans with spinal cord injuries are encouraged to visit www.pva.org.

Jack Wollitz has written this column weekly since 1988. Contact him at jackbbaass@gmail.com.