Sailfish Competition Heats Up with Gold Cup Series Kickoff Dec. 2-5

ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys -- The 47th annual Islamorada Sailfish Tournament, one of the oldest tournaments in the Keys, is set for Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 2-5. The all-release boat tournament, typically characterized by hundreds of sail releases and high-flying action, is the first leg of the triple-crown Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship series.

The second and third leg of the series are the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament set for Jan. 20-22, 2011, followed by the Islamorada Fishing Club Sailfish Tournament Jan. 26-27.

The Islamorada Sailfish Tournament rules place a strong emphasis on conservation and sportsmanship. It's also the only tournament in the series to offer a junior division for anglers age 16 and younger.

The tournament is to open with pre-registration at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, in the main dining room at Whale Harbor Inn, mile marker 83.5 oceanside in Islamorada. A kick-off banquet featuring a seafood buffet with stone crabs follows, as does a rules meeting.

Fishing is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3 and 4, and from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5.

The weigh-in for fun fish closes Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m., and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. The public is invited to watch the weigh-in all three days.

A standings party with cocktails and free hors d'oeuvres is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Wahoo's Bar and Grill at Whale Harbor. A gala awards banquet is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday at Whale Harbor's Braza Leņa Brazilian Steakhouse, with the awards presentation at 8 p.m.

Early entry fees are $600 for the first angler fishing aboard a vessel and $500 for each additional angler. Fees for entries received after Nov. 10 are $700 and $550, respectively. The junior angler entry fee is $200 regardless of entry date.

Unlimited anglers are allowed per vessel, though entries are nontransferable and no substitutions are allowed unless approved in writing by the tournament director.

Deadline to register for the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship is Dec. 1, 2010, and is limited to 30 boat teams of elite sport fishermen. Entry fee is $1,000 for four anglers. At least one angler must be entered and paid for all three events.

For more information, visit the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament website at www.islamoradasailfishtournament.com, call 305-852-2102 or e-mail ditournaments@aol.com.

Specially discounted rates during the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament are available at The Islander Resort, located at mile marker 82. To make reservations, contact Shannon O'Berry at 800-753-6002, ext. 710.

For other area accommodations, call the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce at 305-664-4503 or 800-322-5397, or visit the Florida Keys & Key West website at www.fla-keys.com. Keys information also can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest and on Twitter at twitter.com/thefloridakeys.