VETERANS FOUGHT WARS; YOU CAN FIGHT A FISH TO SUPPORT THEM; VFW FISHING TOURNAMENT IS THIS WEEKEND

a woman holding a fish on a dock
The VFW in Key West will host its 13th annual fishing tournament for boats throughout the Lower Keys June 20-22. Visit vfw3911.org for rules and registration. CONTRIBUTED

The 13th Annual VFW Key West Fishing Tournament takes place June 20-22 with a captain’s meeting and final registration on Friday, June 20 and fishing from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22. 

This year’s tournament features more than $50,000 in payouts and prizes. More information is at vfw3911.org or at the captain’s meeting at 7 p.m. Friday, June 20 at the VFW on North Roosevelt Boulevard. At least one person from each participating boat must attend and is responsible for knowing the rules.

Weigh-in is open from 2 to 4 p.m. both days at Stock Island Yacht Club and Marina in Key West or at Big Pine Key Resort, 33000 Overseas Hwy., Big Pine Key. Fish may be brought to the scales by either boat or motor vehicle. 

The five categories of fish in the VFW tournament are dolphin, wahoo, tuna, grouper

and snapper. In the tuna category, the eligible species are blackfin, skipjack and yellowfin. In the grouper category, the eligible species are black and red. In the Snapper category, the eligible species are yellowtail, mutton, mangrove and lane.

Mandy Miles
Mandy Miles drops stuff, breaks things and falls down more than any adult should. An award-winning writer, reporter and columnist, she's been stringing words together in Key West since 1998. "Local news is crucial," she says. "It informs and connects a community. It prompts conversation. It gets people involved, holds people accountable. The Keys Weekly takes its responsibility seriously. Our owners are raising families in Key West & Marathon. Our writers live in the communities we cover - Key West, Marathon & the Upper Keys. We respect our readers. We question our leaders. We believe in the Florida Keys community. And we like to have a good time." Mandy's married to a saintly — and handy — fishing captain, and can't imagine living anywhere else.