Seventy-six sailfish were released with nearly $80,000 awarded to the winners during the 60th Islamorada Fish Tournament, held Dec. 1-3.
Capt. Brian Cone led anglers Mark Mitchell and Kenneth Padgett of Charlotte, North Carolina, along with Tavernier residents Travis Bennett, Arek Wojcik and junior angler Andy Cone to victory. They had 11 fish releases for a second win in a row. The team, including mates Justin Matson and Brett Shahlamain, took home hand-carved sailfish trophies created by Doug Berry and sponsored by Caribee Boat Sales and Yamaha Outboards. They also received 60th anniversary coffee mugs and a check for $38,548.
The 60th Islamorada Sailfish Tournament at Whale Harbor hosted 70 anglers, captains and mates, plus friends and family with a grand buffet. Under decent sail fishing conditions, anglers competed for three days until lines were out of the water at 3 p.m. on Dec. 3.
Anglers were greeted with east winds during the first day of fishing Dec. 1. By the end of the day, Capt. Marty Lewis put the crew aboard the Main One into the lead with five sailfish releases. Angler Robert Richardson Sr. aboard the Yabba Dabba Doo had four releases, as well as team Tackle Center with four. Trophy Hunter released a sailfish by junior angler Andy Cone, Bennett and Padgett.
On day two, Killbox Capt. Cody Darbie called in a hook-up three minutes after lines were in the water. The fish was released minutes later, giving the Killbox a total of two fish for the two days. The day belonged to Back in Business and Capt. Robert Collin’s team, however, with five releases and seven releases for the first two days. Trophy Hunter anglers released four sails and also had seven releases.
Winds were down as the fishing continued on day three. Capt. Sean O’Donnell on the Carolina Reel Men called in the tournament’s only triple header of sails. Mates Sam Milazzo and Hudson Wampler were able to grab all the leaders’ sailfish plus two others later that day, propelling them into second place with a total of nine released sails. Anglers Lee Gahagen, Jimmy Hendrix and Ramiro Hildalgo-Gato, of Islamorada, along with Tavernier’s Milazzo and Marathon’s Brandon Simmons took home $19,256 and hand-carved, second-place awards sponsored by Tackle Center of Islamorada.
Trophy Hunter released four sailfish on day three for a total of 11 releases over the three days. Team Killbox anglers Tyler Kelley, of Bartow, Islamorada’s Philip Bryan, Corbin Buckley and KC Spaulding, and Marathon’s Joe Marina and Clint “Digger” Rodamer took third place with eight sailfish releases. They received hand-carved original pieces and a check for $12,620.
Yabba Dabba Doo angler Robert Richardson Sr. won Top Male Angler and the Bill Hirni Memorial High Point Angler award with five releases. Hirni was a major player over the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament’s rich 60-year history before passing away in 2005. His daughter and granddaughter presented the award and a double-sided hand carved trophy created by Doug Berry.
Top lady angler Seanna Lindback was awarded a similar hand-carved trophy. She released one sailfish during the event fishing aboard the Tiki. Andy Cone, 13, won Top Junior Angler with two releases on the Trophy Hunter. Most Tagged Fish team awards went to Indiana anglers Chris Chastain, Sam Chastain, Alan Sutkowski, Nathan Burns and Colby Mason, of Islamorada, with three tagged fish aboard Capt. Alex Adler’s Kalex.
Islamorada’s Madison Wright won the Most Outstanding Catch award with a 31.5-pound African pompano that ate kite bait. Tavernier’s Konnor Ross, fishing aboard the Relentless, weighed in a blackfin tuna at 19.5 pounds to take the Largest Tuna award.
Cloud Nine angler Eric Ehlers won the largest mackerel award with a 17.1-pound kingfish. The largest dolphin of the tournament was caught by Marathon resident Joe Marino and weighed in at 8.5 pounds.
The Islamorada Sailfish Tournament is the first leg of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship. The Trophy Hunter is currently in the lead with 11 fish. Second place in the Gold Cup is the Carolina Reel Men with nine releases, and third is Killbox with eight releases. The next leg of the series is at the Islamorada Fishing Club’s Sailfish Tournament on Jan. 17 and the champions will be crowned at the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament Jan. 20-21.
The Islamorada Sailfish Tournament is the primary fundraiser for the Islamorada Charter Boat Association. The Islamorada Sailfish Tournament will continue the fight to preserve and protect the fabulous fishing in the Florida Keys. More information is at islamoradasailfishtournament.com.
Contributed photos by Tim Rahn Photography
