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ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — Organizers of the Casting for Cats Ladies All-Tackle Backcountry Tournament are to celebrate a decade of fundraising to help control Upper Keys feral cat populations with the 2012 event Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14-15.
The all-release tournament based at the Islander Resort, mile marker (MM) 82.1 oceanside, targets some of Keys anglers’ favorite inshore fish species: bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook and redfish.
A kick-off party is set for 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at the Islander, followed by a 7 p.m. rules meeting. A silent auction and “Litter Box Dig” for prizes are to take place from 6-9 p.m.
Fishing begins Saturday, Oct. 15, with breakfast from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. Boats can leave the docks at Worldwide Sportsman, MM 81.5 bayside, at 7:15 a.m. Lines-in is set for 7:30 a.m. and lines-out at 3 p.m.
Female anglers earn points for catching each species using bait, artificial lures or fly tackle. A new Hell’s Bay boat awaits the angler who catches all five tournament-specific species and a sixth species from the “junk-fish” category (such as trout, ladyfish, shark or jacks).
Though a prize is awarded the overall grand champion, the real catch is the Cat-Fish trophy, a handmade sculpture of (what else?) a cat and a fish for the lady who scores the largest catfish.
The awards banquet begins Saturday at the Islander with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner and presentations starting at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday’s silent auction closes at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds from the tournament and auction underwrite the spaying or neutering and medical needs of injured feral cats in the Keys.
Entry fee is $125 per angler. Additional social tickets are $20 and $30 for Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Tournament information: www.castingforcats.org, 305-664-2012 or 305-393-6174
ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — The Publix Mad Dog Mandich Fishing Classic returns for its fourth year Oct. 7-8, honoring the late Jim “Mad Dog” Mandich, a passionate angler and former Miami Dolphins star football player.
A top boat prize of $5,000 cash is to be awarded for the highest cumulative weight of the tournament's target species. The second-place team receives $1,000, while other prizes include $500 apiece awarded to the anglers who catch the heaviest dolphin, kingfish, tuna and wahoo.
The tournament’s scheduled kick-off party is set for 4-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at Ziggie & Mad Dog's Restaurant, mile marker (MM) 83 bayside. Attractions include a silent auction fundraiser, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
Anglers can register until 8 p.m. Captains should be present for the tournament rules meeting at 7 p.m.
The following day boats are free to depart at 7 a.m. Fishing is to continue until 3:30 p.m.
All fish must be weighed in between 4 and 6 p.m. at the weigh station at Chesapeake Beach Resort, MM 83.5 oceanside. Cocktails are to be served.
A dinner buffet and live music are to start at 6:30 p.m. under a party tent, with awards scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on the beach at Chesapeake Beach Resort.
Registration is $450 per boat for four anglers, and early entry is $400 if received by Sept. 29. The tournament is open to the public.
A portion of tournament proceeds benefits the Florida Keys’ Mariners Hospital.
For entry information, visit www.maddogclassic.com/fl-keys
23 August 2011
Popular ‘Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!’ Weekend Seminar Set for Nov. 11-13
ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — Women can land new angling skills and embark on first-ever fishing trips at the award-winning “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” weekend seminar slated for Friday through Sunday, Nov. 11-13.
Nearly 6,000 women seeking an experiential vacation, empowerment and confidence on the water have immersed themselves in the exciting “No-Yelling School of Fishing” to learn hands-on fishing skills in offshore, bottom, inshore and fly fishing whether they are at beginner, intermediate or advanced levels.
Student anglers gain proficiency in marine and habitat conservation and hone skills at releasing, knot tying, bait rigging, spin and net casting, boat and trailer handling, stand-up fish fighting techniques like reeling under pressure, and even how to gaff a grapefruit and safely remove hooks.
Guest speakers include prominent fishing captains Jim Anson, Skip Bradeen, Bob Jones, Rick Rodriguez and Lee Lavery.
Supported by Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, weekend events are to be held at Islamorada’s Holiday Isle Beach Resorts and Marina, mile marker (MM) 84 oceanside.
The seminar kicks off Friday, Nov. 11, with a 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. welcome party and networking social, including a raffle and silent auction, for participants and guests.
Saturday’s action begins at 8 a.m. with classroom sessions followed by lunch and hands-on activities until 4:30 p.m. At day’s end, ladies enjoy food, fun and local art at Pasta Pantaleo’s Signature Gallery, MM 81.5 oceanside.
Sunday morning ladies can test their newly acquired abilities during an optional inshore or offshore fishing adventure. Anglers can fish from a party (drift) boat or sport-fishing boat, or try inshore flats fishing.
Before they savor their succulent catch, they also can learn how to fillet it.
Entry fee, which includes classroom book and instruction, use of equipment, welcome reception, meals and goody bag, is $115 per person until Oct. 28 and $145 thereafter. Sunday fishing excursions are additional. Classes fill quickly, so anglers are advised to register early. Specially priced accommodations in Islamorada also are available.
Event information: www.ladiesletsgofishing.com, 954-475-9068 or info@ladiesletsgofishing.com
Islamorada, Florida Keys — Organizers have postponed the 10th annual Herman Lucerne Memorial Backcountry Fishing Championship, named after the man known affectionately as “Mr. Everglades,” until Sept. 23-25.
Based in Islamorada with fishing set against the backdrop of Everglades National Park, the event challenges anglers who seek the hard-to-reach yet fruitful fishing areas that Lucerne favored. He spent nearly 40 years exploring the backcountry’s labyrinth of canals, water trails and mangrove mazes.
Under the tournament’s distinctive format, anglers vie for seven different species: black drum, bonefish, redfish, snook, snapper, tarpon and trout. To be awarded the overall grand championship, the individual or team needs to catch at least four of the seven eligible species.
Kickoff and registration for anglers is set for 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at World Wide Sportsman, mile marker 81.5 bayside. Saturday and Sunday are fishing days, and anglers must check in at either World Wide Sportsman or Don’s Bait & Tackle in Homestead, Fla.
An awards presentation is set for Sunday evening at World Wide Sportsman. Appetizers and cocktails are to begin at 6 p.m., followed by a 7:30 p.m. buffet dinner and awards.
More than 20 prizes are to be awarded in general, artificial and fly divisions.
Registration fees are $400 per adult angler, $350 per young adult angler age 17 to 25, and $275 per junior angler age 16 or younger. Social tickets are additional.
ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — Organizers of the Casting for Cats Ladies All-Tackle Backcountry Tournament are to celebrate a decade of fundraising to help control Upper Keys feral cat populations with the 2012 event Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14-15.
The all-release tournament based at the Islander Resort, mile marker (MM) 82.1 oceanside, targets some of Keys anglers’ favorite inshore fish species: bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook and redfish.
A kick-off party is set for 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at the Islander, followed by a 7 p.m. rules meeting. A silent auction and “Litter Box Dig” for prizes are to take place from 6-9 p.m.
Fishing begins Saturday, Oct. 15, with breakfast from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. Boats can leave the docks at Worldwide Sportsman, MM 81.5 bayside, at 7:15 a.m. Lines-in is set for 7:30 a.m. and lines-out at 3 p.m.
Female anglers earn points for catching each species using bait, artificial lures or fly tackle. A new Hell’s Bay boat awaits the angler who catches all five tournament-specific species and a sixth species from the “junk-fish” category (such as trout, ladyfish, shark or jacks).
Though a prize is awarded the overall grand champion, the real catch is the Cat-Fish trophy, a handmade sculpture of (what else?) a cat and a fish for the lady who scores the largest catfish.
The awards banquet begins Saturday at the Islander with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner and presentations starting at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday’s silent auction closes at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds from the tournament and auction underwrite the spaying or neutering and medical needs of injured feral cats in the Keys.
Entry fee is $125 per angler. Additional social tickets are $20 and $30 for Friday and Saturday, respectively.
KEY LARGO, Florida Keys — The Baybone Celebrity Tournament, the second in the fall Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series devoted to “catching the cure” for cystic fibrosis, is set for Friday through Sunday, Oct. 7-9, in the waters off Key Largo.
All tournament events are to be headquartered at Dove Creek Lodge, mile marker 94.5 oceanside, with social functions at the adjacent Snapper’s Waterfront Restaurant.
The permit and bonefish tournament opens with registration 4-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at Dove Creek Lodge. A cocktail party and kick-off dinner follow at 6 p.m. at Snapper’s, with live auction fundraising action to begin at 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 8 and 9, are fishing days for anglers to compete in men’s and women’s overall as well as spin and fly divisions. After a daily continental breakfast at 6:30 a.m., boats can depart at 7 a.m. Check-in is no later than 5 p.m.
Dockside parties where anglers can meet the participating celebrities are scheduled for 3-5 p.m. after each day of fishing. An awards banquet is set for 8 p.m. Sunday.
Celebrities who have fished the prestigious Baybone tournaments in past years include legendary angler Stu Apte, former Denver Bronco and Tampa Bay Buccaneer Mark Cooper and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs. Boggs is to be celebrity host at this year’s event, according to tournament organizers.
As part of the Baybone weekend, the annual Fly Shop of Miami/Fort Lauderdale Superfly tournament is to be held Friday, Oct. 6. Tournament registration and kick-off dinner are set for 7 p.m. Thursday at Dove Creek Lodge and Snapper’s Restaurant.
Entry fee for the Baybone is $3,000 per angler or $3,500 for a two-person team. The fee includes admission to social functions for each angler and a guest, as well as the guide and a guest.
The Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series culminates with the Redbone Celebrity Tournament slated for Nov. 4-6 in Islamorada.
KEY LARGO, Florida Keys — Anglers are to compete to catch trout and redfish during the 11th annual Take Stock in Children Backcountry Challenge set for Friday through Sunday, Sept. 30 through Oct. 2, in Key Largo waters.
The tournament kickoff is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at the Lion’s Club, located at mile marker 100 oceanside in Key Largo. An anglers and captains meeting is to be followed by a welcome party and silent auction.
Anglers can begin fishing as soon as festivities end, and continue straight through until 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2. An awards dinner, live and silent auctions are set for 6 p.m.
First, second and third prizes await the adult anglers catching the largest fish by length in each target species. Additional prizes are slated for winners in ladies, fly, pro and youth divisions.
Proceeds from the tournament benefit both local Rotary scholarships and the Take Stock in Children Scholarship Program, a statewide initiative that awards two-year college scholarships to economically disadvantaged students in grades seven to 12 upon graduation.
The tournament entry fee is $100 per adult angler and $70 per youth angler through Sept. 30. A late registration fee of $25 will be charged adults who register at the kick-off event.
Tournament information: www.keylargorotary.org, Mike Shipley at 305-852-4087 or Whitney Lavene at 786-390-3672