Local Tournament Events
2010-2011 Tournament Schedule
2010
July 21-23: Del Brown Permit Tournament. Key West. Anglers fly-fish on the flats for the powerful, speedy permit. The tournament honors the late angling pioneer Del Brown, who caught and released more than 500 permit off the Keys. Contact Charlotte Ambrogio at 305-664-2444, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 1063, Islamorada FL 33036.
July 21-24: Drambuie Key West Marlin Tournament. Key West. Anglers pursue the mightiest of the offshore species in the same waters plied by novelist Ernest Hemingway. The catch-and-release tournament, held in conjunction with Key West’s annual Hemingway Days celebration, offers more than $50,000 in guaranteed prize money. Contact Scott Greene at 305-292-2710, visit keywestmarlin.com or write to P.O. Box 5590, Key West FL 33045.
July 25-26: Islamorada Fishing Club RedGhost Stalk. Islamorada. Anglers compete to catch redfish and bonefish, the gray ghost of the flats. Winners qualify for the IGFA Inshore Championship. The tournament is open to anglers ages 11 to 25. Contact Jim and Sherri Trice at 305-664-3864, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 22, Islamorada, FL 33036.
Aug. 27-29: Islamorada Swordfish Tournament. Islamorada. Anglers compete to catch swordfish, a species that has recovered to healthy populations off the Keys. This modified release tournament benefits the Billfish Foundation. Contact Captain Richard Peeples at 305-282-1006, E-mail or visit miamiswordfishtournament.com.
Sept. 10-12: S.L.A.M. (Southernmost Light-Tackle Anglers Masters) Celebrity Tournament. Key West. In the first of the annual fall Redbone Trilogy events that raise money to fight cystic fibrosis, top anglers and celebrities target tarpon, permit and bonefish with light tackle. Contact Gary Ellis at 305-664-2002, E-mail, visit redbone.org or write to P.O. Box 273, Islamorada FL 33036.
Sept. 15-17: Islamorada Invitational Fall Fly Bonefish Tournament. Islamorada. Fly anglers are to pursue Islamorada bonefish, some of the largest and smartest in the world, at this all-release tournament. Contact Charlotte Ambrogio at 305-664-2444, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 1063, Islamorada FL 33036
Sept. 16-19: Marathon International Bonefish Tournament. Marathon. Some of the best bonefish anglers anywhere are to stalk the gray ghost of the flats in an area rich with them. This is an all-release spin or fly event. Contact Nancy Ponzoa at 305-394-7758 or E-mail, call Laural Keating at 305-743-6654 or write to P.O. Box 500914, Marathon FL 33050.
Sept. 17-19: Take Stock in Children Backcountry Challenge. Key Largo. Anglers fish for snook and redfish to benefit a statewide scholarship program. Contact Sue Finney at 305-451-2467, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 252, Key Largo FL 33037.
Sept. 25-26: Herman Lucerne Memorial Backcountry Tournament. Key Largo. Up to 100 anglers will be competing for snook, tarpon, redfish, sea trout, snapper, bonefish and black drum against the backdrop of Everglades National Park. Contact Charlotte Ambrogio at 305-664-2444, or write to P.O. Box 1063, Islamorada FL 33036.
Oct. 1-3: Mercury Baybone Celebrity Tournament. Key Largo. The second of three tournaments in the annual Redbone Trilogy, the Baybone targets permit and bonefish to raise money for cystic fibrosis research. Contact Gary Ellis at 305-664-2002, E-mail, visit redbone.org or write to P.O. Box 273, Islamorada FL 33036.
Oct. 6-8: Women’s Fall Fly Classic – Multiple Species. Previously called the Women’s World Invitational Fly Championship Bonefish Series, the revamped all-release, fly-only tournament is to have anglers fishing for four different species. Contact Charlotte Ambrogio at 305-664-2444, visit womensflyseries.com/index.html, or write to P.O. Box 1063, Islamorada FL 33036.
Oct. 11-15: Bonefishing World Championship / Islamorada All-Tackle Bonefish Tournament. Islamorada. Some of the best bonefish anglers compete to catch and release the gray ghost of the flats. Proceeds are to be donated to local charities. Contact Charlotte Ambrogio at 305-664-2444, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 1063, Islamorada FL 33036.
Oct. 15-16: Casting for Cats. Islamorada. This one-day ladies’ all-tackle backcountry tournament raises money for local charities. Contact Sharon Mahoney Ellenwood at 305-664-2012 or 305-393-6174, visit castingforcats.org or E-mail.
Nov. TBA: Ladies, Let's Go Fishing. Islamorada. Female anglers polish their skills and fish in an event sponsored by the fishing education and advocacy group Ladies, Let's Go Fishing! Contact Betty Bauman at 954-475-9068, E-mail, visit ladiesletsgofishing.com or write to P.O. Box 550429, Fort Lauderdale FL 33355.
Nov. 5-7: Mercury Redbone Celebrity Tournament. Islamorada. Celebrities and other anglers catch bonefish and redfish to raise money for cystic fibrosis research in the final event of the annual Redbone Trilogy. Contact Gary Ellis at 305-664-2002, E-mail, visit redbone.org or write to P.O. Box 273, Islamorada, FL 33036.
Nov. 27-28: Islamorada Fishing Club Junior Derby. Islamorada. All species count for points in this competition for young anglers, with the most points awarded for bonefish and permit. Contact Jim and Sherri Trice at 305-664-3864, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 22, Islamorada FL 33036.
Dec. 2-5: Islamorada Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. This competition is the first leg of the triple-crown Florida Keys Gold Cup Championship Series. The tournament is one of the oldest in the Florida Keys. Contact Dianne Harbaugh at 305-852-2102, E-mail, visit islamoradasailfishtournament.com or write to P.O. Box 462, Islamorada, FL 33036.
Dec. 8-9: Islamorada Fishing Club Captain’s Cup Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. Anglers compete for a winner-take-all $25,000 jackpot for catching and releasing sailfish. Contact Dianne Harbaugh at 305-852-2102, E-mail, visit islamoradasailfishtournament.com or write to P.O. Box 22, Islamorada FL 33036.
Dec. 10-12: Captain Don Gurgiolo Sailfish Classic. Islamorada. This all-release tournament offers anglers a chance to pursue sailfish in Captain Don’s memory. Contact Tammie Gurgiolo at 305-852-9337, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 432, Islamorada FL 33036.
Dec. 17-19: Islamorada Junior Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. Now in its 45th year, the event allows anglers through age 16 to target sailfish. All anglers are to receive trophies. Contact Tammie Gurgiolo at 305-852-9337, E-mail or write to 124 Tavern Drive, Tavernier FL 33070
2011
• January 7th thru 9th Key Largo Sailfish Challenge
Tammie Gurgiolo 305-852-9337
• January 9th and 10th Bartenders Sailfish Open
Dianne Harbaugh 305-852-2102
• January 11th thru 13th Florida Keys Outfitters SailFly
Sandy Moret 305-664-5423
• January 14th thru 16th Sailbone
Sharon Mahoney Ellenwood 305-664-2012
• January 20th thru 22nd Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament. Second leg of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship www.cheeca.com Liz Hill 305-451-5094
• January 24th and 25th Tentative dates
Al Flutie Over the Hill Sailfish Tournament
• January 26th and 27th Islamorada Fishing Clubs Sailfish 2010. Final leg of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Championship
www.theislamoradafishingclub.com IFC 305-664-4735
• February 4th thru 6th Women’s Sailfish Tournament
Tammie Gurgiolo 305-852-9337
• February 10th thru 12th Sailfish Open at Hawks Cay
Laura Emmole 727-631-0072
• February 15th and 16th Tentative dates Poor Girls Sailfish Tournament
Sharon Mahoney Ellenwood 305-664-2012
• April 12th thru 16th World Sailfish Tournament Key West
Laura Emmole 727-631-0072