Jan. 7-9: Islamorada SailFly Tournament. Islamorada. Teams gathered for the 25th anniversary of this competition to fly fish for Atlantic sailfish. Captains slow-troll with live baits with no hooks to raise and tease the sailfish, so fly anglers can cast to the fish. More information is at islamoradasailfly.com or from Randy Towe at 305-394-2667.
Jan. 14-15: IFC Captain’s Cup Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. Presented by the Islamorada Fishing Club, the event is the second leg of the three-pronged Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship trifecta. A total winner-take-all cash payout for a full field at the IFC Sailfish Tournament could reach $25,000. More information is at theislamoradafishingclub.com or via email to ditournaments@aol.com.
Jan. 15-19: Key West Kingfish Mayhem. Key West and the Lower Keys. Headquartered at the Perry Hotel & Marina, this tournament takes place in the waters where sizeable king mackerel gather each year before their annual migration. A single open division welcomes all interested teams, and the winning team will receive a $75,000 prize. More information is at meatmayhemtournaments.com/key-west-kingfish-mayhem/schedule/.
Jan. 17-19: Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. One of the most prestigious offshore tournaments in the Florida Keys, this serves as the final leg of the three-pronged Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship. Visit cheeca.com/presidential.
Jan. 26-27: Islamorada Bartenders Sailfish Open. Islamorada. Headquartered at the Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar, this event is open to actively employed Keys bartenders and restaurant workers. Trophies are awarded to individual anglers as well as the bar a team represents, with the perpetual trophy and year-long bragging rights going to the winners. More information is available from Dianne Harbaugh at 305-522-4868 or ditournaments@aol.com.
Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Swamp Guides Ball. Islamorada. In this annual all-release competition organized by the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association, anglers target bonefish, redfish and snook. The tournament benefits the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Foundation and the Guides Trust Foundation. More information is at fkfga.org.
Jan. 31-Feb 2: Islamorada Women’s Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. This light-tackle challenge celebrates its 40th year along with its new affiliation with the Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing organization. Instruction on how to sailfish will be provided to those who request it via an online meeting. Anglers may register to fish from their own boats or sign up for individual or shared charters. More information is at ladiesletsgofishing.com/islamorada-womens-sailfish-tournament.
Feb. 4-5: Poor Girls Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. Women anglers vie for trophies awarded to the first-, second- and third-place teams, grand champion and runner-up grand champion anglers, as well as for the largest dolphin fish, kingfish and tuna. The competition benefits the Upper Keys Veterinary Hospital’s Spay and Neuter Fund and the Shriners Children’s Hospital. More information is at castingforcats.org/poor-girls-sailfish-tournament.
Feb. 6-8: Cuda Bowl. Key West and the Lower Keys. Shallow-water flats anglers and guides are invited to hook up and fight their barracuda rivals. The event is headquartered at South of the Seven Restaurant on Sugarloaf Key. Prizes are awarded in spin and fly divisions. More information is at cudabowl.com or email info@cudabowl.com.
Feb. 7-8: Keys Kids Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. This tournament is free for anglers 16 and younger. More information is available from Diane Harbaugh at 305-522-4868 or ditournaments@aol.com.
Feb. 11-12: Al Flutie Over the Hill Rip-Off Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. Known as the “Flutie,” this all-release sailfish tournament welcomes anglers age 50 and over who compete for awards for the top three teams and high-point male and female anglers. Tournament events are headquartered out of Ocean View Inn and Sports Pub. More information is available from Diane Harbaugh at 305-522-4868 or ditournaments@aol.com.
Feb. 28-March 1: Backcountry Fly Championship Series. Islamorada. Tournament anglers compete to catch the most inches of snook and redfish on fly, in a challenge where 1 inch equals one point. Awards will be given to the grand champion and runner-up, and to the anglers who catch the largest snook and redfish. The field is limited to 30 boats. More information is at BFCtournament.com.
March 4-8: Jimmy Johnson’s “Quest for the Ring” Championship Fishing Week. Key Largo. Hosted by legendary former football coach Jimmy Johnson, the event includes the two-day Billfish Competition with a guaranteed total purse of at least $1 million and the Superbowl-style championship ring. A separate sportfish tournament and the annual Celebrity Pro-Am round out the tournament week. More information is at questfortheringfl.com.
March 10-13: March Merkin Invitational Permit Tournament. Key West and the Lower Keys. This charity flats-and-fly-only tournament challenges anglers to catch and release silvery permit. The event is held at Oceans Edge Resort & Marina on Stock Island. More information is at marchmerkin.com.
March 27-29: Key West Sailfish Tournament. Key West. The Key West Sailfish Tournament brings bring teams together for a two-day shootout-style battle for the top of the leaderboard and prize money. More information is at kwst.profishingtournaments.com.
April 3-5: Spanish Fly Shark Tournament. Key West. Targeting bull sharks, this second annual catch-and-release tournament is focused on increasing knowledge about bull sharks in the Keys. With both inshore and offshore divisions, the challenge will be televised by Outdoor America. More information is at keywestsharktournament.com.
April 24-26: Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament. Marathon. A boat tournament with a release format, the challenge benefits Mission Fishin’, a South Florida nonprofit that helps fund on-the-water adventures for foster children, youngsters with special needs and their families as well as local charitable organizations. Prizes will be awarded to the top three boat teams and top male, female and junior anglers. More information is at marathonsailfish.com.
April 26-30: Tarponian Tournament. Marathon. Rules of this three-evening tournament mandate that each team fishes with a different captain for each outing. Teams also rotate among the three major bridge channels in Marathon, so any potential “hot spots” are shared among all anglers. More information is available via email to dbreznicky@breznickyassociates.com or at 267-210-1952.
May 2-4: Tom Thumb Marathon Bull and Cow Dolphin Tournament. Marathon. Up to $25,000 in cash and prizes awaits the top anglers who catch the largest bull and cow dolphin fish combined, while other prizes are awarded to anglers catching the largest dolphin, wahoo, tuna and tripletail. More information is at marathonoffshoretournament.com.
May 2-4: Nick Sheahan Dolphin Rodeo. Islamorada. Honoring the memory of Nick Sheahan, a Florida Keys student, this tournament benefits a namesake community scholarship fund that has distributed over $456,000. Hosted at Tavernier Creek Marina, the event features cash prizes and $25,000 to the angler with a dolphin fish that beats the state record. More information is at nicksheahan.com.
May 4-10: 37th annual Bob Traa Faro Blanco Invitational Tarpon Tournament. Marathon. Newly renamed to honor tournament founder Bob Traa, this team event allows two to four anglers per team/boat, who fish three nights with three different captains at three different bridges: Bahia Honda, Long Key and Seven Mile. Proceeds from the charity tournament benefit Ronald McDonald House. More information is available from Donna Vankirk at 305-393-0699 or captdonna1@aol.com.May 16-18: ‘Ladies Let’s Go Fishing’ Screamin’ Reels Tournament. Islamorada. Intended for novice anglers, this weekend is about learning and a nonintimidating competition with the “Ladies Let’s Go Fishing” university organizers. Participants can charter a professional boat or fish on their own boat. This is a casual tournament with prizes for the heaviest offshore fish and longest inshore fish, drawings for prizes for those who caught fish, and bonus drawings. More information is at ladiesletsgofishing.com.
