Catching and releasing 20 redfish in a day in the Florida Keys waters is a fine day in anyone’s fishing career, but it’s better that it happened during a tournament.
Teammates Paulo Firmo and Wade Davis of Miami capitalized using artificial lures on schools of redfish to help propel the team to victory in the two-day Robert James Sales Redbone Celebrity Tournament on Nov. 21-22. Named “Redbone” because the anglers seek redfish and bonefish while helping to catch the cure for cystic fibrosis, 11 boats of two anglers each stalked the two species in the 32rd annual event that benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Firmo became the Robert James Sales Redbone Celebrity Tournament grand champion, as well as the high point angler, on day one while fishing with fellow angler Davis and Capt. Dave Denkert, of Islamorada. Firmo also caught the largest redfish of the tournament over the slot limit of 24 inches, which was around 25 or 26 inches.
“Dave still had the (boat’s) motor running and was idling to his spot,” Firmo said. “A jet skier was coming by and Dave asked him to stay toward the channel to not affect the fishing. Right then, Wade hooks up.”
That was the first redfish the team caught and they never looked back. They had four double-headers with Firmo and Davis hooked up to redfish simultaneously, making it exciting to bring the fish in, measure them, photograph them and release them. They used jigs with shrimp, Dave’s homemade jigs, added Firmo. Jigs without shrimp also were working. As the captain was poling off the flat, the duo caught the final double-header.
By noon, the team had caught 20 redfish. The team went in search of bonefish in the afternoon, but zeroed out on that pursuit until the next day of fishing. Sunday, they caught and released 12 bonefish, six each, which was another fine day of fishing in the Florida Keys backcountry.
When the results were tallied, Firmo was declared grand champion and Davis was runner-up. Davis and Denkert have fished nearly their whole lives together, beginning as youngsters in Miami. Firmo received the largest redfish and largest bonefish awards as well as the artificial division champion award. Davis owns Image Graphics, which is a Redbone sponsor and provides the banners and scoreboard for the Redbone tournaments.
Eleven-year-old Caleb Bokor of Islamorada nabbed both the most redfish releases and junior grand champion awards while fishing with Capt. Richard Black. As a 10-year-old, young Bokor was grand champion last year. The youngster has participated in and won many Keys tournaments.
Last year, Caleb fished with his father, Jim Bokor Sr., of Buffalo, N.Y. and Islamorada, who passed away this November. “Senior” was a five-time Redbone winner and won the senior division last year.
The 2020 celebrity grand champion angler was astronaut Bruce Melnick of Merritt Island, Florida. He has logged more than 300 hours in space, and he fished with Capt. Mark Cockerham.
The Pro Angler Division Champion was Robert Scott Collins and the Lady Grand Champion Angler was Carmen Perez Padron. They were guided by Capt. Mark Gilman.
Tournament sponsors, in addition to Robert-James Sales, included the Islander Resort and Conference Center, Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar, Image Graphics, Florida Keys Fishing Guides, Tom Thumb Food Stores, Papa’s Pilar Rum, Pure Fishing, Costa and Mercury Marine.
