Fifty-four bar and restaurant employees competed in the fourth annual Bartenders Dolphin Tournament. The event started with a kickoff party and food at the Whistle Stop Bar and Grill in Islamorada on Aug. 16, followed by 12 boats heading out Aug. 17 under light winds and sunny skies. The combined weight of three dolphinfish would decide the winning bar.
Lazy Days anglers Jasmine Torres, Javier and Maricela Sandoval and Chelsea Salatowski, fishing aboard the Kalex out of Bud N’ Mary’s Marina, weighed fish of 6.2, 9.8 and 15 pounds for a total of 31 pounds. When the scales closed, Lazy Days was crowned the winner.
The team took home the King Sailfish Mounts custom-made trophy, a $1,000 check and the first-place bar plaque, all sponsored by Key Largo Watersports in Islamorada. Salatowski’s 15-pound mahi earned her the top angler award, a $250 check, a trophy and a pink fishing rod sponsored by the Greeen House.
The Outstanding Captain award went to Alex Adler, along with a $500 check sponsored by Doug Lewis in memory of Foxy Lewis. The Top Mate award went to Mason Smith and Hunter Proctor, along with a fishing rod sponsored by Live Action Charters.
Anglers Dominica Bevevino and Stephanie Benseman, fishing for Wahoo’s Bar and Grill aboard the Whiskey Bent, took second place. The team weighed three fish at 12.9, 6.7 and 6.8 pounds for a total of 26.4 pounds, earning the Alina Davis Realtor-sponsored second-place trophy and a $500 check.
Third place went to Snappers Waterfront Saloon anglers Skyler McGarry, Kirk Weatherly, Stephanie Bryant and Megan Pearce, who were sponsored by Bill’s Liquors. The team fished aboard the Contagious with captain Justin Matson and weighed three fish at 7, 8.2 and 9.4 pounds for a total of 24.6 pounds. They received a $250 check and the third-place trophy, sponsored by the Islander Resort.
Deep Eddy’s vodka second-place angler award went to Wahoo’s Bevevino for her 12.9-pound mahi. Third-place angler was Hayden Gotsch, fishing with captain Matt Davis on the Tan Man for Dillon’s Pub and Grill, with a 10-pound fish. The Hard Luck award, a basket of alcohol from the Whistle Stop, went to team Lorelei II aboard the Poon Toon. One of the anglers went for an unexpected swim, but they were able to get back in the boat safely. They did find some mahi, but the fish were small, so they did not come to the weigh-in.
The fifth annual Bartenders Dolphin Tournament will be held at the Whistle Stop on Aug. 15-16, 2027. More information is at Islamorada Bartenders Tournaments on Facebook.
