Mid-Atlantic $500,000 Kicks off Sunday, August 16, 2009
AnglersSummer is passing by faster than a 40-plus knot sportfishing battlewagon headed for The Rip. But, not to fear, the best of the bluewater fishing season is upon us and with it comes the most eagerly awaited big game tournament of the Atlantic season - the Mid-Atlantic $500,000! This year marks the 18th edition of sportfishing’s “Main Event” and like a bottle of fine wine, this event just keeps getting better with age. Scheduled right in the heart of the offshore fishing season, the MA 500 as it’s become known as by many participants, will be held this year August 16-21 with Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, New Jersey serving as tournament headquarters. Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland has again been enlisted as the event’s only satellite host from that popular port. Boats may choose either port to sail from during tournament week and those who sail from Ocean City will once again be afforded full weigh-in services at Sunset Marina.
For more information, contact Tournament Director Bob Glover at 609-884-2400 or visit www.midatlantic500000.com.
Professional Speckled Trout Tournament Series to Launch This Fall
Anglers Saltwater Fishing Association was created to form a professional Speckled Trou tournament series across Gulf Coast. SFA will be launching the "SFA Pro Speck Series in March 2010. The first tournament will be held in Louisiana and Texas. SFA then plans to add tournaments in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South carolina. In addition to the pro series, SFA will hold family tournaments as well.
SFA's Fall Family Tournament is October 10-11, 2009 in Cocodrie, LA at the Harbour Light Marina Pavilion.
Key West Marlin Tournament to offer $50,000 in cash prizes
Anglers targeting marlin and other fish are to compete for $50,000 in guaranteed cash prizes in the 2009 Drambuie Key West Marlin Tournament, scheduled Wednesday through Saturday, July 22-25. The popular tournament is held in conjunction with Key West's annual Hemingway Days celebration, which runs Tuesday through Sunday, July 21-26. Ernest Hemingway, an avid sportfisherman, lived and wrote in Key West throughout the 1930s and fought countless marlin in area waters.
Teams that accumulate the most points for blue marlin, white marlin and spearfish during the tournament's three fishing days are to split a guaranteed $40,000 in cash. The first-place team earns $25,000, while second- and third-place prizes are $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. Teams also can enter one fun fish (dolphin, tuna, wahoo or released sailfish) per boat per day to add to their point total.
All marlin must be tagged and released unless their weight exceeds 600 pounds.
Boats entered in the marlin division can pay an additional fee to compete for $10,000 cash to be awarded in the fun fish division. Cash prizes are to be presented for the three heaviest dolphin, three heaviest tuna (yellowfin, blackfin and skipjack) and three heaviest wahoo.
Tournament entry fees are $1,500 per boat before June 15 and $1,800 per boat after that date for two anglers to compete in the marlin division and attend tournament social activities. Marlin division competitors can qualify for cash prizes in the fun fish division for an extra $300 entry fee per boat. There is no maximum number of anglers per boat, and additional anglers over two can register for $200 apiece, which includes social privileges. Additional social tickets can be purchased for $150 each.
For more information about the Drambuie Key West Marlin Tournament, call (305) 292-2710, e-mail scott.greene@Keywestmarlin.com or visit www.Keywestmarlin.com.
Bay Point Invitational Brings Back "Big Blue" Category
Widely regarded as the premier billfish tournament of the Gulf Coast, The Bay Point Invitational today announced a return of the Weighed Blue Marlin category. The tournament will continue to feature a Catch and Release category for billfish, but has added a separate division specifically for anglers wanting to weigh in a blue marlin in excess of 103 inches.
Participants will be able to compete in both the catch and release division, and the weighed blue marlin division. Although entry into the tournament will automatically enter anglers into the catch and release division, participants must enter the weighed blue marlin division as a separate category.
The decision to weigh blue marlin was made partly in response to requests from past participants. While many anglers supported the Invitational’s recent move to an all catch and release format, numerous participants expressed a desire to weigh in billfish.
The 26th Annual Bay Point Invitational Billfish Tournament will be held July 16-19 at Bay Point Marina. For more information please visit www.baypointbillfish.com.
2009 Red Snapper World Championships Kicks off June 1
Orange Beach Alabama is the home of the 2009 Red Snapper World Championship Saltwater Series Tournament where anglers can compete to win over $200,000 in cash and prizes, and one lucky angler can win the top prize of a Toyota truck from Eastern Shore Toyota. The proceeds from the tournament are directed towards improving and preserving the future of recreational saltwater fishing. In essence, participating anglers are actually fishing for the future of their sport. In the last five years the tournament has raised over $1,000,000.00. These funds are earmarked for the establishment, and continued maintenance, of the largest saltwater reef building program in the world. Approximately 1,200 square miles of Alabama waters are dedicated to the state's artificial reef program. For additional information, visit the Red Snapper World Championship (RSWC) Reef Modules.
Weather postpones 2009 MBGFC Memorial Day Tournament
The following is a letter from the committee...
The MBGFC Memorial Day committee, after looking at many factors including the weather, safety and polling our pre-register boats has decided to postpone the 2009 MBGFC Memorial Day Tournament until next weekend May 29-31. Please note that this decision was made after much thought and input from participants in our tournament. The Schedule will be as follows: Friday May, 29 Registration Opens at 4:00 Kick off party followed by Captain's Meeting @ 8:00 PM Saturday, May 30, Fish Sunday, May 31, Fish, Boats must clear Perdido Pass by 5:00PM Awards ceremony to follow after weigh dock closes.
-Robert P. Weaver
Vice President of Tournament
Flu outbreak postpones IGFA Offshore World Championship
The following is a letter from tournament director Dan Jacobs...
After due consideration of the escalating swine-flu epidemic, it is with great regret that we must inform you of our decision to reschedule the tournament. I know all of you are as disappointed as we are, but the safety of our participants and staff must come first. Our hearts and prayers go out to the citizens of Mexico who will be most affected by this virus. We hope everyone stays safe and healthy and that the epidemic passes quickly.
The good news is we are rescheduling the championship. The new dates for the tournament are November 8-13, 2009. These dates put the championship in the heart of Cabo's fall run of striped, blue and black marlin as well as giant dorado, tuna and wahoo. We hope this week works into your schedule and that you will be able to attend our 10th-anniversary event.
Our host hotel, the Finisterra, is ready to make reservation changes, and most of the airlines are not charging change fees. We have a fantastic lineup of fun events and an incredible amount of gifts and awards for the participants. For more information, please contact assistant tournament director Lynda Wilson at lynda.wilson@bonniercorp.com.
-Dan Jacobs
Tournament Director
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Results and Wrap Ups