Above: Anglers pose with their catch at the VFW Post 5390 in Portsmouth Sunday following the Stars and Stripers Tournament.

PORTSMOUTH — Anglers took to the waters this weekend for a good cause: feeding homeless veterans.

The seventh annual Stars and Stripers Fishing Tournament kicked off Friday at noon and everyone’s weighed catch was donated to Operation Stand Down Rhode Island, which helps homeless and at-risk veterans secure stable housing as well as other assistance.

“Basically we feed homeless veterans,” said Ralph Craft of the Aquidneck Island Striper Team, which hosts the tournament. “The great thing about it is, a lot of people have a problem with kill tournaments, where fish are killed. In this case, all the fish that are weighed in are given to the tournament. We fillet them right here on the spot, they’re freeze-packed, and we also do a canned food drive. We basically give full meals to Operation Stand Down to feed veterans. It’s about a win-win situation as it can be.”

Qualifying fish had to have been caught in Rhode Island or Massachusetts waters up to the three-mile limit (waters around Block Island were off limits). Anglers with fish had to be at VFW Post 5390 in Common Fence Point before noon on Sunday for the start of the weigh-in.

“This year was a great turnout,” said Mr. Craft. “The winner of the entire tournament was Joe Perry with a 34-pound striped bass. He always fishes well.”

Mr. Craft said while the tournament is a fun diversion with a good cause attached, it has deeper meaning.

“The point is that the people don’t forget about the veterans,” said Mr. Craft, noting that many members of the military who have served are going through great hardships.

“This is a good thing that happens every year and a lot of people don’t realize it.”