Local 2008 Tournament Schedule: 

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 5-7: Mercury 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 redboneinc@aol.com, visit www.redbone.org, or write to P.O. Box 273, Islamorada FL 33036.

Sept. 16-19: 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 or e-mail csasun@aol.com.

Sept. 19-21: Ladies, Let's Go Fishing. Islamorada. Female anglers 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 billfishbetty@hotmail.com or visit www.ladiesletsgofishing.com.

Sept. 25-28: 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 Lindsay Rabito at (305) 481-4571 or (305) 743-9424, or write P.O. Box 500914, Marathon FL 33050.

OCTOBER

• Action Craft's 11th Annual Owners Tournament. Contact Tournament Director Jennifer Johnson (941) 574-7008.
• Mercury Baybone Celebrity Tournament. Contact Tournament Director Gary Ellis (305) 664-2002. redboneinc@aol.com
• Mercury Outboards' Bonefishing World Championship/Islamorada All-Tackle Bonefish Tournament. Contact Tournament Director Fred Troxel (305) 872-2366. FTROXEL@BELLSOUTH.NET
• Ladies, Let's Go Fishing! Key Largo. Contact Director Betty Bauman (954) 475-9068. billfishbetty@hotmail.com
• Take Stock in the Children Backcountry Challenge. Contact Tournament Director Norm Whitla (305) 451-5461. teddydepot@yahoo.com
• 10th Annual George Bush/Cheeca Lodge Islamorada Bonefish Tournament. Contact tournament director Julie Olsen 305-517-4456 jolsen@cheeca.com

NOVEMBER

The Sailfish Cup is taking place in Miami Beach, FL, November 10-12 2008! This event will kick off the start of sailfish season and is scheduled around the final NASCAR race taking place at the Homestead Miami Speedway. It will be filled with charitable events, awards gala and two action-packed days of fishing.

With even more surprises underway this tournament promises to be a top-notch event that combines world-class fishing with philanthropy. Boat entries are coming in daily and this will be an event you don’t want to miss out on. So enter today by calling 727-631-0072!
http://www.sailfishcup.com/tournament_info.htm

• Islamorada Fishing Club Junior Derby. Contact Tournament Director Jan Moore (305) 664-4735. fishclub@terranova.net

DECEMBER

• Ocean Reef BTU Backbone Classic Key Largo Contact tournament Director Norm Sims 305-367-9761 NSIMS22@AOL.COM
• Islamorada Sailfish Tournament Contact tournament director Dianne Harbaugh 305-852-2102 info@islamoradasailfishtournament.com
• Mercury/Cheeca Redbone Celebrity Tournament Contact tournament director Gary Ellis 305-664-2002 REDBONEINC@AOL.COM
• Islamorada Junior Sailfish Tournament. Contact Tournament Director Tammie Gurgiolo (305) 852-9337. fishnbully@email.msn.com
• Metropolitan South Florida Fishing Tournament Mini-Met. Contact Tournament Director Suzan Baker (305) 569-0066. keyfish@mindspring.com
• Boy Scout Backbone Tournament. Contact Tournament Director Claire Lang at 305-664-9696 CLAIRE@KEYSCONNECTION.COM
• Islamorada Fishing Club Sailfish Tournament One boat wins $25,000. Contact tournament director Jan Moore 305-664-4735 fishclub@terranova.net
• Islamorada Junior Sailfish Tournament Contact tournament director Tammie Gurgiolo 305-852-9337 FISHNBULLY@EMAIL.MSN.COM
• Captain Don Gurgiolo Sailfish Classic. Contact Tournament Director Tammie Gurgiolo (305) 852-9337. fishnbully@email.msn.com
• Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship Contact tournament director Dianne Harbaugh 305-852-2102; info@islamoradasailfishtournament.com

JANUARY 2009

"The Sailfish Tournament" presented by Mercedes Benz of Coral Gables and Cutler Bay has changed dates.
Due to another tournament scheduled on the same dates as ours we have decided to move our dates to January 8 -11, 2009. Please make a note of the change. We hope to see everyone there.

APRIL 2009

April 14 - 18, 2009 in Key West, FL - WORLD SAILFISH CHAMPIONSHIP
727.669.2591
www.worldsailfish.com

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The term billfish is applied to a number of different large, predatory fish characterised by their large size (swordfish can be over 4 metres 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)