KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Fifteen target species and $5,000 in cash prizes are key figures in the Key West Fishing Tournament’s Kickoff 2012. The angling action is scheduled Saturday and Sunday, March 17 and 18, with introductory events Friday, March 16.
Participants are to vie for cash awards for catching the heaviest dolphin, kingfish, cobia, blackfin tuna, mackerel, mutton snapper, wahoo, mangrove snapper and grunt. In addition, cash awaits boat teams that score the most releases of tarpon, permit, bonefish, barracuda, marlin and sailfish.
Awards also are presented each year in the junior division for anglers under age 15.
The final registration and captains meeting are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, March 16, at the Doubletree Grand Key Resort, 3990 S. Roosevelt Blvd.
On the following two days, anglers can fish from lines-in at 8:30 a.m. to lines-out at 3 p.m.
An awards dinner is to conclude the tournament Sunday at the Doubletree Grand Key.
The entry fee for the kick-off tournament is $200 per boat, with a maximum of six anglers allowed to fish per boat.
Entries in the kickoff also are eligible for the 47th annual Key West Fishing Tournament, which runs through Nov. 30, 2012, and is open to the general public.
Participants can target more than 30 species of fish, with divisions for men, women, junior anglers (ages 10 to 14) and Pee Wees (under 10 years old). Visiting and resident anglers can enter their catches free at tournament weigh stations.
The Key West Fishing Tournament strongly encourages the release of all game fish and will not recognize killed sailfish, marlin, spearfish, tarpon or sharks for award purposes.
All participating anglers receive certificates noting their catches and qualify for prizes.
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