South Florida Anglers Win Islamorada’s IFC Sailfish Tournament

ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — Captain Bernard Paul-Hus of Pompano Beach, Florida, led his team aboard Skip Jac to win the 2023 Islamorada Fishing Club’s Captain’s Cup Sailfish Tournament that ended Jan. 18.         

Team anglers Nicole Paul-Hus of Pompano Beach; Dustin Hansel of Key Largo, Florida; and Max Howard of Palm Beach, Florida, together released seven sails to clinch top honors and a $23,000 winner-take-all payout. 

Second place with four sailfish releases went to Florida anglers Wally Whitley from Islamorada, Matt Mclean of Naples, Florida, and Joe Babino from Tavernier, Florida, fishing on the Que Mas with Islamorada’s Captain Robert Helms. 

Captain Brian Cone of Islamorada led anglers Mark Mitchell and Kenneth Padgett from Charlotte, North Carolina, and Travis Bennett of Tavernier into third place with three releases aboard Trophy Hunter. 

Tournament organizers welcomed 67 anglers fishing on 24 boats during the two-day competition.

The IFC Sailfish Tournament is the second leg of the annual three-event Florida Keys Gold Cup Championship series, which benefits the Islamorada Charter Boat Association and its work to preserve the Florida Keys fishery for future generations. 

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This article was updated on October 27, 2023 at 9:50 AM
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