The 41st annual Islamorada Bartenders Sailfish Open saw Dillons winning first-place and taking the trophy for the second consecutive year.
Starting at the Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar, 60 bartenders and restaurant employees representing 14 different bars released 30 sailfish on Jan. 31. With lines in at 8:30 a.m., the first sailfish hook came 16 minutes into the tournament’s start by Vice Versa. Square Grouper angler Tommy Fricke released the fish.
Meanwhile, Broad Minded’s Capt. Nick Stanczyk called in a hook-up-and-release for Dillons’ Skyler McGarry at 8:50 a.m. A flurry of activity over the next hour changed the standings. By 10:30 a.m. Cloud Nine, fishing the gang from Chef Michael’s, took the lead with releases from Chris Merrell, Christian Ledwith and Ralph Howell. Broad Minded, fishing with Dillons bartenders, stayed in second with the addition of a double-header.
Ocean View (OV) held third with a double-header release for Becca Britto and Lee Cash on the Buzz On. Square Grouper angler Megan Simpson released a sail, giving their team two fish. Shipwrecks anglers Kayla Flanagan and Zeke Brauer aboard the Two Reel also had two fish.
As the day progressed it would become clear that Broad Minded was in it to win it. Dillons’ Jack Whittle released another sail. At 12:30, the team released another double-header followed by a release for McGarry and Jack Whittle. In total, the team had eight sailfish releases for a first-place finish, a trophy and $1,000 in memory of Trapper John, a long-time tournament participant.
Nick Stanczyk won the Outstanding Captain award and Mate Mike Varney took home the Outstanding Mate award. McGarry won first-place angler with four releases on time and a King Sailfish trophy. His name will be engraved on the JayAnna Cohan founder’s award, and he received a $500 check. Whittle released four fish on time. He received a Pasta Pantaleo print for second-place angler.
The OV fishing aboard the Buzz On finished second. The team, consisting of Becca Britto, Lee Cash, Brittany Violette and Butch Comeforo, had four releases. Anglers from Chef Michaels, Ashli Kristin and Kim Tomic and teammates aboard the Cloud Nine took home the third-place bar trophy.
“The reason JayAnna Cohan started this tournament was because she loved to sailfish and she wanted others to have the same opportunity,” said Dianne Harbaugh, tournament director. “I would like to extend a special thank you to all the local businesses who helped to support this event for our hard working bar and restaurant employees.”
