Hosted by Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce
The Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce hosted the 18th Annual Big Pine and Lower Keys Dolphin Tournament June 10-12 with 165 anglers fishing aboard 65 boats.
The captain’s meeting, weigh-ins and awards banquet all took place at Boondocks’ Grille, Draft House & Miniature Golf. Sponsorships from Boondocks Grille, Draft House & Miniature Golf, Cudjoe Sales Fishermen’s Warehouse, Royal Plus, Twin Peaks Insurance, Bishop & Rosasco & Company, Big Pine Key Motel, Centennial Bank, Sea Center, Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant, AT & T the Real Yellow Pages, Florida-Keys.com, and the News-Barometer contributed prizes, raffle items, auction items and giveaways presented during the tournament. This year the tournament featured over $40,000 in cash and prizes and guaranteed a $10,000 cash for First Place.
Weigh Master Capt. Dave Wiley and assistants Noel Kartman, Steve Miller and Dan Iarrobino weighed in 65 Dolphin – many in the 20 to 30-pound class – as well as five Tuna and six Wahoo.
Next year’s tournament is scheduled for June 8-10, 2012.
Open Division
1st Randy Sterling Sr. Key West 44.80 $10,000 Reel Conch
2nd Wayne Burri, Big Pine Key 41.05 $ 2,000 Doubled Up
3rd Darren Threlkeld, Ramrod Key 35.40 $ 1,000 Strike Force
4th Joe Yarborough, Tampa 33.60 $ 500 On The Fly
FIN-NOR SLD 25 Combo and FIN-NOR SLD 20 Combo’s sponsored by Cudjoe Sales Fishermen’s Warehouse and Trophies were awarded to:
Youth Division
1st Taylor Williams, Venice, Fl. 22.05 Sand Shaker
2nd Grant Messenger, Thompson 21.90 Gas Passer
3rd Jayce Howell, Naples, Fl. 20.95 Gator Done
Top Lady Angler
Nicole Butnaru, Summerland Key, Fl 30.85 $500 Step Lively
Special Awards
SHIMANO SPHEROS/TEREZ COMBOS donated by Cudjoe Sales Fishermen’s Warehouse were awarded to Donnie Roberts of Marathon Florida fishing aboard the It’s On for catching a 15-pound Tuna and to Misty Matthews of Lake Placid, Florida fishing aboard the Reel Lite for bringing in a 22-pound Wahoo.
