24th Annual Faro Blanco Invitational Set for May 15-20

MARATHON, Florida Keys — Anglers looking for a riotous good time while raising money for charity can enter the 24th annual Faro Blanco Invitational Tarpon Tournament, slated for May 15-20 in Marathon.

The angling challenge with a long history of fish tales and fun helps fund the Ronald McDonald Summer Camp program for disabled youngsters.
ournament events kick off Saturday, May 15, with welcome cocktails at 6:30 p.m. at Key Colony Inn, 700 W. Ocean Drive at Key Colony Beach. Cocktails are followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m., during which captains are drawn. Anglers fish with a different captain on each of the three fishing days.

Sunday, a meet-the-captains gathering is scheduled for 1:30-3:30 p.m., also at Key Colony Inn. Food and soft drinks are to be served.

Lines in for Sunday night tarpon fishing is set for 4:30-8:30 p.m.

Monday, the second night of fishing is to run 4:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday is a free day for all participants and fishing runs 4:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 19.

Cocktails are set for 9 p.m. at Key Colony Inn, to be followed by the awards dinner Wednesday night.

Trophies are to be awarded to first- through fourth-place anglers with the highest point totals for the tournament. Nightly cash prizes of $300, $225 and $150 and $75 are to go to the top four teams with the most points.

Daily and overall cash prizes also are to be awarded to the top four captains.
A $1,000 special bounty award goes to the angler who catches the last legal tarpon of the tournament that breaks the current 103-pound record of the catch-and-release event’s 24-year-history. The prize is split among the team and captain.

Entry fee is $480 per angler, which includes all activities plus the captain, boat, bait and tackle, and Florida fishing license.
The 2009 tournament donated $28,000 to the summer camp program, according to event organizers.
For more information, visit www.faroblancotarpon.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.