Key West’s VFW Fishing Tournament to Target Five Species June 16-18
KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Male, female, senior, junior and pee-wee anglers — including first responders, veterans and active-duty service members — can test their skills against five finned species Friday through Sunday, June 16-18, during the 11th annual VFW Fishing Tournament.
The family-friendly challenge’s target species are mahi-mahi (also called dolphin fish), wahoo, tuna, snapper and grouper.
Cash prizes are to be awarded for the heaviest catches of each including a first-place prize of $5,000 for the heaviest mahi-mahi.
In addition, a “super prize” of either $20,000 cash or a new Toyota Corolla automobile is to be awarded to the angler who catches the heaviest dolphin fish of 50 pounds or over.
Other cash prizes await the tournament’s top active-duty military angler, veteran and first responder as well as senior, lady, junior (ages 11-15) and pee-wee (ages 10 and under) competitors.
New this year is the VFW Slam. The boat team that catches fish from three of the five species with the highest combined weight is to win $1,000.
Plans call for participating anglers to gather at VFW Post 3911, located at 2200 N. Roosevelt Blvd. in Key West, at 5 p.m. Friday, June 16, for a final registration. A captains meeting is to follow at 7 p.m.
Anglers can fish from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. either Saturday or Sunday, but not both. A 2-4 p.m. weigh-in is scheduled each day at Stock Island Yacht Club and Marina, 6000 Peninsular Ave. on Stock Island; and Big Pine Key Resort, 33000 Overseas Highway on Big Pine Key.
Following Sunday’s fishing, a dinner and awards ceremony are to be held starting at 6:30 p.m. at VFW Post 3911.
Tournament registration is $325 per boat and four anglers by May 31 or $375 per boat thereafter. The fee for additional anglers on a boat is $30 apiece.
All proceeds are to benefit the VFW Relief Fund for veterans and active-duty personnel in need in the Florida Keys’ Monroe County.
Tournament information and registration: vfwpost3911.org/tournament/2023-11th-annual-fishing-tournament/
