Marathon’s Leon Shell Memorial Tournament to Offer $25,000 Purse

MARATHON, Florida Keys — A Marathon mainstay and locals’ favorite, the Leon Shell Memorial Sailfish Tournament is set for Friday through Sunday, March 2-4, at Key Colony Beach, Fla.

Named for the late Captain Leon Shell, best known as the inventor of the artificial “Leon Lure,” the 14th annual event offers two days of sailfishing and a cash purse of up to $25,000.

The winning boat team with the largest number of sailfish releases is to receive a grand prize of $20,000 cash, provided 20 boats register. First and second runner-up teams also take home cash prizes.

Top individual sailfish anglers and anglers who catch the biggest wahoo, dolphin, kingfish and tuna also can take home trophies and cash prizes.

A $1,000 academic scholarship awaits the top angler in the junior division. A $500 scholarship goes to the first runner-up and a $300 scholarship is slated for the second runner-up.

Tournament action kicks off with a 7:30 p.m. captains meeting Friday, March 2, at Sparky’s Landing, tournament headquarters, on Sadowski Causeway near mile marker 53.5 oceanside in Key Colony Beach.

Fishing runs from lines-in at 8 a.m. to lines-out at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3, with a weigh-in until 6 p.m. Sunday’s fishing runs from lines in at 7 a.m. to lines out at 2:30 p.m. Weigh-in goes until 5 p.m., with an awards banquet to follow at Sparky’s Landing.

A raffle and silent auction are to round out the angling weekend.

Entry fees for the boat tournament, due by Feb. 28, are $500 for the first angler and boat captain, and $150 for each additional angler. Each boat is allowed unlimited anglers, but only four lines can be fished at a time. Starting March 1, a $100 late fee applies.

Proceeds benefit Hospice and the Visiting Nurse Association of the Florida Keys, which provide home health and hospice services to the Keys community. Since the event’s inception, more than $150,000 has been donated to Hospice/VNA.


Event information: www.LeonShellTournament.com
Marathon visitor information: www.fla-keys.com/marathon or 1-800-262-7284
Florida Keys Fishing information: www.fla-keys.com/fishing
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