After a two-year hiatus, 90 anglers boarded 31 boats on June 11 for a day of fishing in the Florida Keys Elks Lodge’s eighth annual Ladies Dolphin Tournament. The combined weight of three fish determined the winners in this one-day fishing event.
“We had great weather and a fantastic turn out,” said tournament co-director Dianne Harbaugh. The tournament kicked off with a boat load of shrimp from Shrimp Improvement Systems and other appetizers.
When the weigh scales closed at 5 p.m. on June 11, Captain Andy Nikitich along with mates Bea and Scott Veath, fishing aboard the No Tan Lines, led their anglers to victory. Sandra Nikitich, of Islamorada, and Christina Veath, of Tavernier, weighed in fish of 24.8, 20.6 and 20 pounds for a winning combined weight of 65.4 pounds. First-place tiaras and trophies, sponsored by Upper Keys Marine Construction, were awarded to the winners along with a large travel bag full of valuable prizes and a check for $3,000. Captain Andy received a Pasta print sponsored by Caribee Boat Sales.
Second-place awards, sponsored by Island Arms and Indoor Range, went to Angler Eddy’s anglers Maegan Cabrera, Jessica Ball and Susi Trainer, of Tavernier, along with Mia Diaz, of Miami, and Payton Sujat, of Pompano Beach. The team’s fish were caught aboard the Angler Eddy’s captained by Eduardo Cabrera with mate Cole Tristan. The team weighed in the largest fish of the tournament, 25.8 pounds, caught by Mia Diaz, winning her $1,000, a tiara and a pendant from DePaula’s Jewelers. The teams also weighed fish of 12.5 and 4 pounds for a total of 42.3 pounds. The team took home a travel bag full of items donated by local businesses, trophies, plus a check for $1,500.
The Blue Heaven captained by Skye Stanley with mate Jesse Hall would lead angers Callie Diehl and Taylor Roberts, of Lakeland, to the Townsend Plumbing-sponsored third-place trophies. Both junior anglers weighed fish. Diehl’s fish was the largest caught by a junior angler, weighing in at 16.7 pounds, winning her a David Wirth circle hook Junior Angler Trophy along with a tiara. The team weighed two more fish, 7.6 and 6.1 pounds, for a total of 30.4 pounds on time.
Prizes were awarded to the top 10 teams. Stacey Attales, of Tavernier, fishing with her friends Katie Cantelow, of Watford, North Dakota, and Debbie Attales, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, aboard the Enigma took fourth place with 30.4 pounds. Fifth place anglers Amie Gregory, Megan Simpson, Annie Hagen and Alison Raines weighed a total of 22.2 pounds fishing on the Provider. Sixth place finishers aboard the Mary Beth were anglers Mary Houston, Marcia Boswell, Maureen Slattery and Stephanie Townsend weighing three fish totaling 20.9 pounds.
Seventh place went to Yankee I with Sienna and Suzanne Raponi, Zoe Bilzor, Shirley and Allie Beth Wilson. The team weighed in 19.9 pounds of dolphin. Anglers Kendra Paulson, Kathleen Wiernicki, Alyssa Webb and Olivia Hanifi finished in eighth place on the Sea Senorita, weighing in a total of 17.2 pounds. Ninth place went to Nuff Said with anglers Candace Everett, Kristin Powell and Tiffany Williams with a total weight of 17.1 pounds. Locals Donna, Seanna, Skylynn and Ariana Lindback fishing aboard the TIKI took home 10th place.
“It was great to be able to fill our top 10 winner’s bags with such wonderful items from businesses throughout the Upper Keys,” said tournament co-director Denny Tarbell. “The Elks have such wonderful charities that this event will help. This was the result of a lot of hard work from a great team of people who all came together and put on a tremendous show.” Information on the Elks, the charities they support and how to become a member is at www.floridakeyselks1872.com or 305-852-1872.
