ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — Female anglers are to fly-cast for four species in the Women’s Fall Fly Classic, to take place in Islamorada Monday through Thursday, Oct. 4-7. Once focused only on bonefish, the challenge now targets tarpon, snook and redfish as well.
The tournament kickoff is scheduled Monday, Oct. 4, with a rules meeting and cocktail party at the Islamorada Fishing Club, mile marker 82 bayside in Islamorada.
During the following three days of angling, all boats are to depart from and return to the club. An awards party is planned at the club Thursday, Oct. 7, after the final day of fishing.There are no minimum size requirements for bonefish, but tarpon, snook and redfish must measure a minimum of 20 inches long to be eligible for release points. Anglers accrue release points for each species. Bonefish are worth 250 points, redfish 100 points, snook 125 points and tarpon 175 points. A backcountry slam (releasing a tarpon, snook and redfish on the same day) earns 150 bonus points, while a flats slam (releasing a tarpon, permit and bonefish on the same day) qualifies for 250 bonus points.The registration fee of $600 per angler is due by Aug. 30.
For information, rules and an application to compete in the Women’s Fall Fly Classic, visit www.womensflyseries.com or contact Charlotte Ambrogio at 305-942-0428.
ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — Anglers are to battle for points for catching and releasing the elusive bonefish in the 34th annual Islamorada Invitational Fall Fly Bonefish Tournament set for Tuesday through Friday, Sept. 14-17.
Also referred to as the “Fall Fly,” the annual test of skill and stealth is to kick off with a 6 p.m. welcome reception and captains meeting Tuesday, Sept. 14, at the Islamorada Fishing Club next to the Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar at mile marker 82 bayside. Three days of fly-fishing for bonefish follow. Each day starts at the Lorelei, where anglers breakfast before fishing and check in after each day of competition. Points are awarded for both weight and release fish. All bonefish to be weighed must be brought to the Islamorada Fishing Club and then released alive.Cocktail parties are set for 3-4:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 15 and 16, at the Islamorada Fishing Club. An awards ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, at the club.
The entry fee of $1,000 per angler includes fishing, all social functions and awards. For more information, call 305-942-0428 or e-mail csasun@aol.com.
Participating anglers vie for seven different species: black drum, bonefish, redfish, snook, snapper, tarpon and trout. To be awarded overall grand champion honors, the individual or team needs to catch at least four of the seven eligible species.
Kickoff and registration for all anglers is set for 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, at Sundowners, mile marker 104, with a captains meeting and cash bar immediately following.
Saturday and Sunday are fishing days. Lines-in for both days is set for 6:30 a.m. and lines-out is at 3 p.m. Anglers must check in at either Sundowners or Don’s Bait & Tackle in Homestead.
An awards dinner is slated for 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening at Sundowners.
Prizes are to be awarded to the overall grand champion, top guided and nonguided teams, junior, male and female anglers as well as in six other divisions.
The angling challenge is a qualifying event for the 2011 IGFA Inshore World Championship, to be held in Islamorada.
The early registration fee is $300 per adult angler and $225 per junior angler if received by Aug. 15. Awards dinner tickets are additional.
For more information and to register, contact Linda Denkert at 305-393-5127, e-mail backcountrybabe1@aol.com or visit the Herman Lucerne Memorial website at http://hermanlucerne.wordpress.com/event-schedule/.
June 19, 2010
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has suspended daily production of offshore Transocean/BP oil spill trajectory maps, according to a report on NOAA’s website that was confirmed by an official of the Unified Command in the Florida Keys.
If the threat of shoreline impacts to the Keys resumes, NOAA said, the agency plans to again produce offshore trajectory maps.
The website explains the suspension, because the northern end of the Loop Current has been pinched off into a large clockwise eddy (Eddy Franklin) so there is no clear path for spilled oil to enter the Loop Current from the source in the northern Gulf of Mexico that is about 500 miles northwest of Key West.
“There (also) have been no reports of recoverable oil in the Loop Current or Eddy Franklin and the oil has moved to the north and away from the Eddy Franklin (and) NOAA will continue to monitor the area with aircraft, vessel observations and satellite analysis,” the report added.
Potential impacts cannot completely be ruled out, officials said, until the leaking Transocean/BP well is completely plugged and oil no longer flows into the ocean.
Both Coast Guard and NOAA officials said they are prepared if any oil residues should reach the Keys. Officials said up to 300 trained personnel are contracted to respond to mitigate tar balls. Additional resources can be called upon, if needed. BP would fund any needed cleanup costs.
KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Anglers whose passion is permit can pursue the wily sport fish in the name of the late angling legend Del Brown Tuesday through Friday, July 20-23. The Del Brown Invitational Permit Tournament honors the man who invented the Del Brown Permit Fly and caught more than 500 permit during his lifetime.
The tournament angler who catches the largest total inches of permit on fly on the flats earns the title of grand champion. Awards also await the grand champion guide, runner-up grand champion and the angler who catches the event’s largest permit. Champions receive original artwork as prizes.
The fly-only Del Brown Invitational Permit Tournament begins with a kick-off event and captains meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, at Hurricane Hole Marina, 5130 Overseas Highway on Stock Island.
The angling action is scheduled Wednesday through Friday, July 21-23, with an awards ceremony set for approximately 4:30 p.m. Friday at Hurricane Hole Marina.
The entry fee is $1,500 per angler. Professionals and guides are allowed to compete as well.
For more information and registration forms, e-mail csasun@aol.com or call 305-942-0428.
For lodging information in Key West, contact the Key West Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-LAST-KEY (800-527-8539) or visit the Keys website at www.fla-keys.com.
KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Anglers targeting dolphin fish can compete for more than $30,000 in guaranteed cash, prizes and trophies during the 21st annual Key West Gator Club Dolphin Derby, scheduled June 25-27 to coincide with the height of the Florida Keys dolphin fishing season. Tournament events are to be based at Key West Harbour Yacht Club, 6000 Peninsular Ave. The boat team with the largest aggregate weight in dolphin during the derby’s two fishing days will take home a grand prize of $5,000 cash. The second-place team will earn $2,500, while $1,000 awaits the third-place finishers. As well as the team prizes, individuals in the tournament’s divisions for male, female and junior participants can compete for trophies, prizes and cash totaling more than $20,000. The angler who catches the single largest dolphin is to receive a cash prize of $2,500. New for the 2010 tournament is the Edward Jones 50-pound Challenge. In this voluntary–entry competition, the first participant who reaches the dock with a dolphin weighing 50 pounds earns an additional cash prize estimated at $3,000. Each participating angler is allowed to enter one qualifying fish on each of the tournament’s fishing days. Tournament events begin with a final registration at 6 p.m. Friday, June 25, at Key West Harbour Yacht Club, followed by a rules meeting and dinner. Fishing is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 26 and 27, with weigh-ins at Key West Harbour until 5:30 p.m. each day. A tournament dinner at the club, provided by Outback Steakhouse, is set for Saturday night. Sunday’s post-fishing schedule features a cocktail party with a cash bar, full buffet dinner and final awards ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Doubletree Grand Key Resort, 3990 S. Roosevelt Blvd. Proceeds from the dolphin derby benefit Gator Club scholarship funds for local students attending the University of Florida.
Tournament entry fees are $150 per adult angler and $75 per junior angler under age 14. For more information and registration forms, call John Stuempfig at 305-304-7674 or e-mail.
For lodging information in Key West, contact the Key West Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-LAST-KEY (800-527-8539), or explore this website.
MARATHON, Florida Keys – Skip the necktie this year because the 24th annual Father’s Day Dolphin Derby is gearing up to give dads plenty of angling action and excitement instead. The event is set for June 18-19 in Marathon with an expanded format. The popular one-day tournament includes a $3,000 pro/semi-pro division, $2,000 amateur division and father-son or -daughter team awards in addition to other prize levels and cash awards. “What better way to spend quality time with dad than a memorable day on the water fishing?” said Captain Jack Carlson, one of the tournament’s organizers. Early registration is encouraged by Thursday, June 17. The captains meeting and final registration are set for Friday, June 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Sparky’s Landing, located at Key Colony Beach Marina off U.S. Highway 1 at mile marker (MM) 53.5 oceanside. Lines-in runs from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 19. Final weigh-in is at 6 p.m., and awards ceremonies follow at 7 p.m. at Boatman’s Sombrero Resort, 19 Sombrero Blvd. at MM 50. The fee of $125 per angler includes entry, a tournament T-shirt and one meal ticket for the captains meeting and awards banquet. The pro division requires a three-angler minimum, with a two-angler minimum for the amateur division.
To register, call 305-289-0199 or click here. For lodging rates at Boatman’s Sombrero Resort & Lighthouse Marina, call 305-743-2250 or click here.
To find out about other area accommodations, call the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce at 305-743-5417 or 800-262-7284, e-mail or explore this website.
IFC Captain’s Cup Dolphin Tournament to Award $25,000 Grand Prize
|
ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — Just three fish are all that’s needed to capture the $25,000 winner-take-all grand prize at the annual Islamorada Fishing Club’s Captain’s Cup Dolphin Tournament set for Wednesday and Thursday, June 2-3. The only catch is that the aggregate weight of the three dorado must be the highest in the tournament. The fun is to start with a kick-off party Wednesday, June 2, at the club, mile marker 82 bayside in Islamorada. The boat-format tournament gets under way with lines in the water at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, June 3. The awards banquet is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the club. All fish to be weighed can be brought to the Islamorada Fishing Club by boat or car. Each fish must be at the club’s certified weigh station by 5 p.m. sharp with the angler who caught it. Only three fish per team will be weighed. Entry fee is $2,500 per boat, which allows two anglers to fish and includes four tickets to all social events. The tournament is an IGFA Offshore World Championship qualifying event. Tournament directors guarantee a grand prize of $25,000, but the prize could be as high as $30,000 if the tournament’s maximum number of 30 registered boats is reached. For more information, call Dianne Harbaugh at 305-852-2102 or the Islamorada Fishing Club at 305-664-4735, or click here. |
MARATHON, Florida Keys — Tarpon might be called silver kings, but it’s the fairer sex they’re up against during the annual Ladies Tarpon Tournament slated for Saturday and Sunday, May 22-23.
The two-night tournament is to kick off with a final sign-up and mandatory captains meeting at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Marathon’s Castaways Restaurant, located at 1406 Oceanview Ave., mile marker (MM) 47.5.
Lines-in is set for 5 p.m., with lines-out to be called at 9 p.m. Anglers and teams can return to Castaways for dinner and to swap fish tales.
Lines-in for the second and final night of fishing is set for 4 p.m. Sunday. Lines-out is to be called at 8 p.m.The tournament dinner and awards presentations are to begin at 9 p.m. Sunday at Annette’s Lobster & Steak House, located at MM 48 bayside, with awards presented to individual anglers and teams.
Entry fee is $175 per angler. An additional fee of $40 per team is required to compete for team awards. A maximum of two anglers per team is allowed.
Social tickets for the awards dinner are $50 per person.For more information, call Donna VanKirk at 305-289-2248 or e-mail marathonbait@gmail.com.
To find out about area accommodations, call the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce at 305-743-5417 or 800-262-7284, e-mail visitus@floridakeysmarathon.com or visit the Florida Keys & Key West website at www.fla-keys.com.