KEY WEST – The World Sailfish Championship concluded on April 18th in Key West. The 77 boats that participated were privy to some fabulous sailfishing conditions off the Lower Keys.
Winds out of the east and blowing, that’s just how the sailfish like it. For the anglers that fished this week in the tournament there was no disappointment in the fishing.
The winning anglers of Get Lit walked away with the win and a check for $340,825. The Get Lit team consisted of owner Kitt Toomey, Jon Cooper ,Peter Miller, Claudio Martinez, Kelly Mayo, Cap Hinckley, and skipper Quinton Dieterle all of Miami.
The team contributed their success to staying focused and skipping lunch. They were credited with 22 releases for the three days of fishing.
Toomey said a critical moment came on the last day of fishing when they lost their lead. They made a move from where they were fishing up off Big Pine where the current was strong and the water clarity was bluer. They started catching fish again in 130- to 150- feet of water.
Second place went to the angling team Excavator consisting of owner Patrick Merryman, Danny Ayo, Lt. Col. Regis Baldauf, Dorian Mullar, Brandon Pinder, Linda and Bill Thomas, and Captain Brandon Mullar all from Duck Key. They had 19 releases.
Third place was awarded to Weez in the Keys for their 19 releases. Congratulations to boat owner Scott Robins of Miami Beach, John Johansen, Tyler Morris, Patty Stone-Morris and Justin Miller, , Capt. Dave Morris, all of Islamorada and Rob Ruwitch of Coral Gables.
The tournament total was a whopping 564 releases during three days of fishing.
For complete details and photos please visit www.worldsailfish.com.
The sailfish bite was certainly hot this week. Capt. Tony Murphy had some great fishing for sailfish as well.
Murphy said the sailfish were visible up to 400- yards away.
“The fish were flooding through along the green side,” Murphy said.
Murphy and his angler were throwing a live bait to pods of sailfish and they had released 8 before noon. Murphy said his single angler was done after that and ready for something else to fish for.
Murphy spent the remainder of the week doing some filming for his website at www.saltwaterangler.com. The video will feature offshore fly fishing and the many species that are available throughout the year here in the Lower Keys.
Murphy and Michael Dugger who is an employee at the shop took the long trek out to the shrimp boats to shoot video of the blackfin tuna and bonito chowing on flies.
Apparently this weeks sailfish bite would have been a good place to be to put a fly in front of a sailfish.
“They were snapping off the bait, a well presented fly would have probably been eaten,” Murphy said.
The flats have been lively this week too. Tarpon are starting to string out on the ocean side of the Keys. This will be the general movement for the next few weeks as long as our weather stays nice.
The bonefish numbers are steadily increasing on the Gulf side and west of Key West all the way to the Marquesas. The temperature of the water is stable right now so bonefish should be an optimal species from now through the fall.
Upcoming events include the 6th Annual Key West Open spear fishing tournament to be held at Hurricane Hole on May 1 through 3. The tournament is 75.00 to enter and offers cash and great trophies for the heaviest fish. Tournament applications can be downloaded at www.spearboard.com under the tournament section.
For more information contact Normal Vogel at 305-745-1362.
