Florida Keys Gold Cup Series Continues with Cheeca Presidential Sailfish Tournament

ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — The second leg of the three-event Florida Keys Gold Cup Championship Series, the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament, is scheduled Friday through Sunday, Jan. 21-23, in Islamorada.           

Kickoff for “The Presidential” is set for 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, at Cheeca Lodge, mile marker 82 oceanside, and includes a welcome cocktail party, angler registration, rules meeting and dinner. 

Saturday and Sunday anglers test their light-tackle skills with 20-pound or less line to wrestle the high-flying acrobatic sailfish, known for tail-walking the waves. Only circle hooks can be used.

Fishing is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Sunday evening, trophies are to be awarded to the tournament’s top anglers including grand champion, second- and third-place angler, top lady angler and junior champion angler.

Up to 25 boats can register for “The Presidential.” Entry fee is $700 for the first angler per boat, with additional anglers’ entry fee at $650, up to four per boat, until Jan. 3, 2022. After Jan. 3, the entry fee for the first angler increases to $800 and each additional angler is $750.

Evening social event tickets for nonanglers are available for purchase. In addition, Cheeca Lodge offers a special “Presidential Tournament Rate” on regular rooms for tournament anglers.

An overall Gold Cup Series champion is to be crowned after the series’ third and final leg, the Islamorada Fishing Club Sailfish Tournament, set for January 27.

Tournament information: cheeca.com/experience/fishing, call 305-587-0574 or email bcoteron@cheeca.com.

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This article was updated on December 29, 2021 at 8:34 AM
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