2010 Tournament Schedule

March 5-6: Backbone Lures “Fish ‘Til You Lose It.” Islamorada. Anglers compete to catch the finned denizens of the flats and backcountry, fishing with one lure or one fly until they lose it. Contact Paul Tejera via E-mail or visit backbonelures.com.

March 5-7: Captain Leon Shell Memorial Billfish Tournament. Key Colony Beach. Anglers pursue sailfish in honor of the late lure maker who made the Middle Florida Keys his home. The tournament benefits Hospice of the Florida Keys. Contact Terry Fisher at (305) 289-1310, E-mail or visit leonshelltournament.com or write to P.O. Box 510910, Key Colony Beach FL 33051-0910.

March 11-14: Florida Keys Survivor. Islamorada. In this backcountry elimination draw tournament, the winner is the sole survivor. Contact Sharon Mahoney Ellenwood at (305) 664-2012 or (305) 393-6174, or send an E-mail.

March 12-14: Key West Fishing Tournament Kick-Off. Key West & Lower Keys. Targeting multiple species, this annual challenge starts a season-long tournament that awards certificates for outstanding catches and prizes in a host of categories. Contact Doris Harris at (305) 295-6601, E-mail or visit keywestfishingtournament.com or write to P.O. Box 2154, Key West, FL 33045.

March 13 - Nov. 30: Key West Fishing Tournament, Inc. Key West & Lower Keys. This popular 8.5-month-long competition targets more than 40 species of fish. Contact Doris Harris at (305) 295-6601 or (800) 970-9056, E-mail or visit keywestfishingtournament.com or write to P.O. Box 2154, Key West, FL 33045.

April 7-9: Islamorada All-Tackle Spring Bonefish Tournament. Islamorada. Anglers compete to catch the gray ghost of the flats in the legendary shallows surrounding Islamorada. This all-release tournament features trophies and prizes. Contact Charlotte Ambrogio at (305) 664-2444, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 1063, Islamorada FL 33036.

April 11: 7 Mile Marina Marathon Sharkathon. Marathon. Take a bite out of Marathon as anglers match skills in catching multiple shark species during this one-day, man-versus-shark release tournament. Contact Dan Rudacille (305) 395-0546.

April 13-17: World Sailfish Championship. Key West. With a guaranteed top prize of $100,000, the prestigious sailfish challenge draws top teams and benefits the Don Shula Foundation for Breast Cancer Research, Camp Boggy Creek for youngsters with chronic and life-threatening illnesses, and other national and local charities. Contact Mike Weinhofer 305-395-3474 or 727-631-0072, E-mail, visit worldsailfish.com or write 2120 Range Road, Clearwater FL 33765.

April 16-18: Redbone @ Large Hawks Cay Sunrise/Sunset Tarpon Celebrity Tournament. Marathon. The event is one of approximately 30 Redbone celebrity tournaments that are held each year, with all proceeds benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Contact Gary Ellis at 305-664-2002, E-mail or visit redbone.org or write to P.O. Box 273, Islamorada FL33036.

May 2-5: Tarponian Tournament. Marathon. Anglers target tarpon and vie for prizes in this high-energy event. Contact David Breznicky at 215-542-1492, E-mail or write to 118 W Butler Ave., Ambler PA 19002.

May 6-8: Marathon International Tarpon Tournament. Marathon. This all-release event is one of the longest-running tournaments targeting the mighty silver king. Contact Donna Vankirk at 305-289-2248, E-mail or write to 3740 Overseas Highway, Marathon FL 33050.

May 7-8: Mother’s Day Dolphin Tournament. Marathon. Dolphin fish are the target in this angling challenge to benefit Habitat for Humanity. Contact Michael Kiraly at 305-676-3019, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 500067, Marathon FL 33050.

May 14-16: Coconuts Dolphin Tournament. Key Largo. One of the largest-drawing tournaments in South Florida, this challenge named for a Key Largo restaurant pits anglers against dolphin fish. Contact Charles Mountain at 561-741-1124, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 2648, Key Largo FL 33037.

May 15-20: Faro Blanco Invitational Tarpon Tournament. Marathon. Anglers tangle with silver kings in an event named for a famous Marathon resort. The tournament is a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House charities’ summer camp program. Contact Robert Traa at 609-645-1840, ext. 115, E-mail or write 776 West Black Horse Pike, Pleasantville NJ 08232.

May 17-19: Golden Fly Tarpon Tournament. Islamorada. This prestigious fly tournament for large tarpon benefits college scholarships for Keys students. Contact Charlotte Ambrogio at 305-664-2444, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 1063, Islamorada FL 33036.

May 22-23: 34th Annual Ladies Tarpon Tournament. Marathon. Women compete in this all-release tournament to catch tarpon in one of the longest-running tournaments in the Keys. Contact Donna Vankirk at 305-289-2248, E-mail or write to 3740 Overseas Highway, Marathon FL 33050.

May 29: Yamaha Dolphin Masters Invitational. Key West. Experienced offshore captains are to lead the chase for the colorful and acrobatic dolphin fish and a $15,000 first prize. Contact John Stuempfig at 305-304-7674, e-mail E-mail or write to P.O. Box 2418, Key West FL 33045.

June 2-3: Islamorada Fishing Club Captain’s Cup Dolphin Tournament. Islamorada. Anglers compete for a winner-take-all $25,000 jackpot for catching dolphin fish. Contact Theresa Reineman at 305-664-4735, E-mail, visit theislamoradafishingclub.com or write to P.O. Box 22, Islamorada FL 33036.

June 4-6: Islamorada Dolphin Tournament. Islamorada. Hosted by the Islamorada Charterboat Association, this second annual event is headquartered at Whale Harbor Marina, with $15,000 in prize money and an unlimited number of anglers. Contact Dianne Harbaugh at 305-852-2102 or E-mail.

June 7-11: Don Hawley Tarpon Tournament. Islamorada. The world’s top fly-rod anglers pursue the mighty silver kings in one of the most storied tournaments in the Keys. Contact Charlotte Ambrogio at 305-664-2444, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 1063, Islamorada FL 33036.

June 11-13: Big Pine & Lower Keys Dolphin Tournament. Big Pine Key. Anglers compete to catch dolphin fish, one of the most popular species in the Keys. The tournament features more than $25,000 in cash and prizes. Contact the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce at 305-872-2411 or 800-872-3722, E-mail, visit lowerkeyschamber.com or write to P.O. Box 430511, Big Pine Key FL 33043.

June 15-17: Women’s Fly Series – Tarpon. Islamorada. This invitational fly tournament for tarpon, open to men and women, benefits children’s charities. Contact Charlotte Ambrogio at (305) 664-2444, visit womensflyseries.com, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 1063, Islamorada FL 33036.

June 18-19: Island Grill Blue Water Dolphin Tournament. Islamorada. The event incorporates a one-day dolphin tournament, with an optional Father/Son Fun Fish on Father’s Day weekend, to benefit Baptist Hospital’s Children’s Cancer Center. Contact Jack McCormick at 305-664-8400, E-mail, visit keysislandgrill.com or write to 85501 Overseas Highway, Islamorada FL 33036.

June 19-21: Father’s Day Dolphin Derby. Marathon. Anglers are to celebrate Father’s Day by catching one of the most beautiful, best-tasting and fastest-growing fish in the sea to benefit the Marathon Youth Club. Contact Jack Carlson at 305-289-0199 or write to 11499 Overseas Highway, Marathon FL 33050.

June 21-25: Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament. Islamorada. Fly rodders compete to catch and release giant tarpon. Winners and their guides get their names engraved on the Gold Cup perpetual trophy. Tournament proceeds benefit children’s charities in the Keys. Contact Charlotte Ambrogio at 305-664-2444, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 1063, Islamorada, FL 33036.

June 25-27: Key West Gator Club Dolphin Derby. Key West. Anglers compete to catch dolphin fish, a plentiful summertime treat off the Keys. The derby raises money for college scholarships. Contact John Stuempfig at 305-304-7674, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 2418, Key West FL 33045.

July 3: Conch Republic Ladies’ Dolphin Tournament. Key West. This competition is for women only, although male captains and mates are allowed. Contact John Stuempfig at 305-304-7674, E-mail or write P.O. Box 2418, Key West FL 33045.

July 9-11: Hawks Cay Mahi Fly (Redbone @ Large Series). Marathon. Professionalism, camaraderie and competition characterize this event that benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Contact Tammie Gurgiolo at 305-852-9337, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 432, Islamorada FL 33036.

July 13-15: Florida Keys Outfitters IGFA Inshore World Championship. Islamorada. Tournament winners from around the world compete for one of the most prized trophies in angling. The tournament features inshore fishing for permit, tarpon, bonefish, redfish and snook. Contact Denise Scoble or Sandy Moret at 305-664-5423, E-mail or write to P.O. Box 603, Islamorada FL 33036

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.

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.

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.

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.

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The term billfish is applied to a number of different large, predatory fish characterized by their large size (swordfish can be over 4 meters long) and long, sword-like bill. Billfish span the sailfish and marlin, which make up the family Istiophoridae, and the swordfish, sole member of the family Xiphiidae. They are important apex predators feeding on a wide variety of smaller fish and cephalopods. While billfish are most common in tropical and subtropical waters, swordfish in particular are sometimes found in temperate waters as well. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)