Key West Fishing Tournament Kickoff to Target 15 Species March 11-13

KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Anglers are to seek top catches in 15 different species in the Key West Fishing Tournament’s Kickoff 2011, set for Friday through Sunday, March 11-13.

The kickoff offers $5,000 in cash prizes to be split between the winning anglers. Participants are to vie for cash awards for catching the heaviest mutton snapper, dolphin fish, cobia, kingfish, wahoo, mackerel, blackfin tuna, mangrove snapper and grunt. Other cash awards recognize the most releases of tarpon, permit, bonefish, barracuda, marlin and sailfish.

The kickoff’s final registration is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 11, at the Doubletree Grand Key Resort, 3990 S. Roosevelt Blvd.

Lines are to be in the water the following two days from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

An awards dinner is scheduled at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at the Grand Key.

The entry fee for the tournament is $200 per boat for up to six anglers (excluding party boats). The cost of the awards dinner is $25 per person.

Entries in the kickoff also qualify for the Key West Fishing Tournament, which runs from March through Nov. 30, 2011, and is open to the general public.

More than 40 species of fish are targeted during the Key West Fishing Tournament, with divisions for men, women, junior anglers (ages 10 to 14) and Pee Wees (under 10 years old). Visiting and resident fishing aficionados are invited to enter their catches, at no charge, at a tournament weigh station during the event.

The Key West Fishing Tournament strongly encourages the release of game fish. All participating anglers receive certificates noting their catches and qualify for a variety of prizes.

Event information and registration: www.keywestfishingtournament.com or 305-295-6601
Key West visitor information: www.fla-keys.com/keywest or 1-800-LAST-KEY
Social: www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest · twitter.com/thefloridakeys

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