One of the most moving and dramatic events of last summer should be repeated in a few weeks at Cypremort Point.

Aaron Breaux of New Iberia and his dedicated committee members have been putting the finishing touches on plans for the 2nd annual Denise P. Breaux Memorial Redfish Derby, which is scheduled to be held July 28 out of Quintana Canal Boat Landing. They began making plans in January in an effort to equal or better the inaugural fishing contest many people called the biggest-single day event ever at Cypremort Point.

Nearly 300 fishermen in 135 boats fished that hot summer day in the fundraiser that gives back to the community in the name of the late Denise Poche Breaux, who died Feb. 27, 2011, at age 47 after a four-year long battle against cancer. She was beloved among family, friends and co-workers at Iberia Medical Center, where she worked 29 years as a controller.

Breaux, her widower, started planning the one-day fishing tournament soon after she died. In March, he opened the Denise P. Breaux Memorial Fund through the the Community Foundation of Acadiana. Money taken in last year — $27,150 — was donated to charities and nonprofit groups.

It has been more than a year since her death. Breaux, 52-year-old service supervisor for Halliburton, has as much or more passion for the cause as he did last year at this time.

“Everything I’m doing is for Denise. I’m not worried about anything else,” he said last week while talking about the upcoming event.

“Like anything, you’ve got your good days and your bad days. It’s just hard, just hard losing somebody,” he said about his wife of 29 years.

Breaux perked up at the prospects of having a bigger and better redfish derby.

“You know, the first year, I didn’t know what to expect. It was just something we threw together. For the first year last year, it was almost flawless,” he said, praising the committee members. “You couldn’t ask for anybody better.”

One of them is his and Denise’s close friend Bo Evans of Houston, formerly of New Iberia. Evans was the weighmaster and plans to be weighmaster again this year with the help of his daughter Claire Evans, 24, of New Iberia, and Lance Breaux, the Breauxs’ son. Evans, 46, an account rep for Halliburton Energy Services, was just as pleasantly surprised at last year’s turnout as Breaux.

“I think it was a resounding success last year. I wasn’t expecting that many people. When it started out I thought 25 boats would be good. It got to 50. That was excellent. Then we got to 141 (registered boats). I tell you, that was a good deal. I hope we get as many as last year if not more,” he said.

Entry fee is $100 per boat. Forty percent of the total purse will be paid back to the anglers — 35 percent for first place; 25 percent for second place, 20 percent percent for third place, 15 percent for fourth place and 5 percent for fourth place. Fifth- through 10th-place finishes will get a small soft ice chest and visor with the derby’s logo on it.

“We’re trying to do a little more this year in keeping people involved and thanking them for supporting us for this derby,” he said.

Boats can weigh in one three-fish stringer of redfish within the 16- to 27-inch slot. Derby time is from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Gino Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie will provide live entertainment.

On July 27, Breaux and company invite everyone to enjoy a redfish courtbouillion from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Skippers can register during that time and leave from their camp the next morning to relieve congestion at the landing.

DON SHOOPMAN is outdoors editor of The Daily Iberian.