The Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship triple-crown series will welcome anglers Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 5-8, with the 61st Islamorada Sailfish Tournament. The tournament is a primary fundraiser for the Islamorada Charter Boat Association.
Social events will be headquartered at the Whale Harbor Restaurant and Marina complex at MM 83.4 oceanside, with a kickoff to registration, a rules meeting, cocktails and a gala banquet on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m..
All-release fishing is set for 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7, and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. Cocktails, an awards banquet and raffle prize drawings follow Sunday’s fishing, beginning at 6 p.m.
Optional categories offer boat teams more opportunities to win prize money. Categories include Day by Day, Overall Entry, Grand Puba, Go Big and Fun Fish. Additional entry fees are elective and are not required to enter the tournament, according to organizers.
A few spaces are still available, with entry fees of $795 for the first angler fishing aboard a vessel and $675 for each additional angler. The junior angler (under age 16) entry fee is $350.
Two subsequent fishing events in the Gold Cup Series include the Islamorada Fishing Club Sailfish Tournament scheduled for Jan. 14-15, 2025, and the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament set for Jan. 17-19, 2025, when the series culminates and an overall Gold Cup champion is crowned.
Last year, 76 sailfish were released with nearly $80,000 awarded to the winners during the 60th Islamorada Sailfish Tournament. Team Trophy Hunter released 11 sailfish for the tournament victory.
Register at islamoradasailfishtournament.com or by contacting Dianne Harbaugh at 305-522-4868.
