Thirty-four sailfish were released by a field of 21 boats Thursday, Jan. 26, in the Islamorada Fishing Club Sailfish Tournament and the placings helped determine the winner of the three-part Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship Series (my report on examiner.com will follow Feb. 1). In 80-degree weather, with winds averaging 15 knots out of the east, Doug Mientkiewicz of Islamorada and a former pro baseball player, and Reggie Rodriguez of Miami released five sailfish on the Olympic Gold with Capt. J.C. Cleare and Mate Fulton Ivy to bring home the gold, or $25,000 in cash plus prizes. It is a winner-take-all tournament. The awards, original wave art trophies by local artist Chris Catlett, were a huge hit. The trophies were sponsored by the Hampton Inn, Caribee Boat Sales and Yamaha Outboards.
Anglers Shay Danzig and Nick Stanczyk along with Capt. David Morris with Mate Jeffery Liederman on the Bodacious also released five sailfish, taking home second place honors, based on time caught. Original wave art was presented to Danzig and Stanczyk, native sons raised in Islamorada, sponsored by Mercedes Benz of Cutler Bay and Capital Bank.
The Reel McCoy fought their way into third place with a late double-header of sailfish. The first of the double was released securing their spot with four releases. Anglers Larry Amoyette of Silver Springs, Fla. and Sean Smith from Ft. Lauderdale took home trophies sponsored by Regan Insurance while captain George McElveen’s and mate Justin Miller’s trophies were sponsored by Ocean Sotheby’s International Realty.
The host of the tournament, the Islamorada Fishing Club, opened in 1950. Its bayside clubhouse, bar and restaurant is next to the Lorelei Restaurant and mile marker 82 and it hosts various tournaments throughout the year with its dolphin tourney set in June. For more information, visit www.theislamoradafishingclub.com.
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