The Lower Keys Dolphin Tournament July 10-12 promises to challenge angling teams.
Dolphin fish are the target and teams can vie for more than $35,000 in cash and prizes during the 27th annual Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce Dolphin Tournament.
The angling challenge is scheduled Friday through Sunday, July 10-12. Tournament events are to be headquartered at Kiki’s Sandbar, located at 183 Barry Ave. on Little Torch Key.
The boat team that catches the tournament’s largest dolphin fish can take home $7,500 and a trophy — with an added premium of $20,000 if the winning dolphin weighs over 50 pounds.
Cash and trophies also await the second- through fourth-place teams and the team that catches the largest blackfin tuna. Prizes are based on a minimum field of 30 registered boats.
Awards in the youth division, for anglers age 15 and under, include prizes and trophies through third place.
The tournament is set to kick off at 5 p.m. Friday, July 10, with a registration party featuring a cash bar at Kiki’s Sandbar. A mandatory captains meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Angling action commences at 7 a.m. the next two days.
Saturday’s weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. at Kiki’s Sandbar.
Sunday’s fishing is to conclude with a weigh-in set for 3-5 p.m., also at Kiki’s. A 4-6 p.m. social gathering and 6 p.m. dinner and awards ceremony round out the day’s events.
Tournament entry fees are $450 per boat if received no later than July 1 and $500 per boat thereafter, covering up to six anglers per boat. The fee also includes four passes for Sunday’s awards dinner. Additional social passes for the awards dinner are available for $25 per person.
The first 50 boat teams to register are eligible for the $20,000 cash prize.Event information and registration: lowerkeyschamber.com/chamber-events/
