Imagine a bonefishing competition that allows the use of any tackle while catching fish via all possible means you could think of, trying to win one or more of at least fifteen awards. You can even use two rods at one time! Could such a tournament exist? It does indeed. The Bonefishing World Championship, also titled the Islamorada All-Tackle Bonefish Tournament, promotes bonefish anglers and guides to flex their bonefish muscles in their respective areas of expertise. In this shoot-out format, a winner emerges at the end, after considerable smoke (or in this case mud) clears.



The All-Tackle is considered a legendary classic in the world of flatsfishing. Beginning in 1970, the All-Tackle (shortened in the modern era from 5 to 3 days) is well into a 40 year history that has showcased the finest guides to ever push a boat. A partial list of this talent has included: Clarence Lowe, George Hommel, Cecil Keith, Eddie Wightman, Steve Huff, Bob Reineman, Harry Spear, Billy Knowles. Current professionals and legends-to-be like: Tim Klein, Craig Brewer, Paul Tejera and Bob Branham continue to participate.



An equally impressive who's who of anglers have graced the All-Tackle; Jack Kertz, the very first winner here in 1970 and former owner of Bud N'Mary's Marina, Kenny McKenney, owner of Theater of the Sea, multi-Keys tournament winner Jim Bokor, Jose "Pepe" Lopez, who has weighed in more 13 pound plus bonefish than any angler in Keys tournament history and brilliant Miami columnist, fictional author and screenwriter Carl Hiaasen.



Some noteworthy highlights in the history of the All-Tackle have been; Jose "Pepe" Lopez capturing the title five times (a record) with Islamorada Capt. Billy Knowles. This always dangerous team also holds the all-time scoring record of 7,212 points. Truly remarkable when you consider this performance was during thirty mph winds and under the influence of a powerful low pressure system that pumped out squall lines hourly over several days of the event. Lopez and Knowles also hold the record for the largest fish, a monster 14 pound 8 ouncer taken on a crab.



Another significant accomplishment is Rick Moeller winning from both ends of the boat! His father Dick won in 1988 with Capt. Al Polofsky. Rick won only three years later with Capt. Craig Brewer. Then in 2000, Rick poled Mark Cockerham to victory, illustrating a total mastery of bonefishing first as an angler and then a guide.



Assembling a winning score is far more challenging than you might imagine. You are allowed five weight fish (bones over 8 pounds) for the three day event. You can take a maximum of two per day, and cannot replace a used weight slot with a larger fish. If you have 2 nine pounders on board and luck into a 12 pounder, you must let him go. All enterable weightfish are brought back to the tournament headquarters, officially weighed and carefully released unharmed. This successful release adds a 100 point bonus to the value of the fish.



Scoring strategies can become complicated if not downright stressful. Weightfish are worth more points per ounce with each pound they are larger. Example; a 10 to 10lb 15 ouncer is worth 3 points per ounce, a bone of 11-11lb 15 ounces is worth 4 points per ounce. All weights caught on artificial or fly are worth a full extra point per ounce.



You may not want to keep (especially early on Day One) an 8 pounder, worth only 2 points per ounce and burn up one of your weight slots. Holding out for a larger, higher scoring fish might be a better choice, dependent upon weather, skill level, nerves, how other boats are faring and dozens of other factors.



Here is where the scoring becomes even more intricate. You cannot win this tournament with releases only. Release points go into the bank and can only be activated up to, but not over, the amount of weight points you have accumulated. Let's figure you have successfully weighed in a 10 pounder caught on a shrimp, worth 480 points. He swims away happy (although extremely embarrassed) and you are credited with 100 additional bonus points. You now have 580 points and you return to the flats and bang out 6 small bones on fly. They are worth 200 points each for 1,200 more points. Your score is now 1,160, with 620 more points going into the bank, waiting to be activated either in part, or hopefully in total by your next weightfish.



All bones under 8 pounds are considered releases and are worth 100 points on bait, 150 points on artificial and 200 points on fly. The Most Releases trophy is awarded on release points and not on body count of fish.



If you don't come in First, there are numerous Divisional awards to win. There are champions for; Fly, Spin (artificial), Plug (artificial), General (bait), Daily High Points, Largest Fish (overall), High Point First Time Angler, High Point Out of State Angler and even Largest Permit (by inches)!



Recently, there has been talk of declining bonefishing in the Keys. There is no doubt that overseas locations have more fish, feelgood fish of far, far less intelligence. Our Florida Keys still hold the real trophies. There's an old saying among the locals in Islamorada; "You haven't really caught a bonefish unless you caught it here."



Our weightfish (again bones over 8 pounds) have certainly become tougher to find and fool. (How many fisheries over time have shown improvement?) This has only made the All-Tackle even more competitive and has thickened up strategies. The great news is thus far over the summer of 2010, guides and anglers are reporting more double digit bonefish catches than in recent years. All are encouraged by this trend. The upswing in the fishery is expected to directly translate into bigger All-Tackle scores. Check us out on facebook. To participate in this multi-tackular showdown held on October 11-13 of 2010 call tournament director Charlotte Ambrogio 305-942-0428 or CSASUN@aol.com .