Northeast Brothers Win Top Slot at Tarponian Invitational in Marathon

MARATHON, Florida Keys — A team of two brothers from Pennsylvania took top honors at the Tarponian Invitational that wrapped up May 10 in Marathon after three evenings of fishing.

Rusty and Ray Martz from Ambler, Pa. released 16 fish for the overall win.

With 13 tarpon to take second place were anglers Harry Scott and David McGill, both from Philadelphia. 

The family of Corky, Pat and Chris Cain from Dresher, Pa. released 11 tarpon for third place. 

Each year the high-energy tournament mandates that teams must fish with a different captain each evening, so no one group of anglers has an advantage with potential "hot spots." 

Teams rotated among the three major bridge channels in the Middle Keys — the Seven Mile, Long Key and Bahia Honda bridges. Because of this format, captains are also awarded for the overall numbers of tarpon landed on their boats.  

Named first place captain with 22 fish was Captain Jared Dieguez of Marathon. Captain John Callion, also of Marathon, tallied 18 tarpon to land the second-place captain slot.

A field of 32 anglers on 12 boats participated in the event, releasing 88 tarpon, a tournament record. 

Next year’s tournament is scheduled for April 28-May 2, 2024. Contact David Breznicky at 267-210-1952 for tournament information for next year.

A field of 32 anglers released 88 tarpon for a new tournament record in the 2023 Tarponian Invitational fishing tournament in Marathon.

A field of 32 anglers released 88 tarpon for a new tournament record in the 2023 Tarponian Invitational fishing tournament in Marathon.

Participants fished three evenings at three different Middle Keys bridges with a different captain each night.

Participants fished three evenings at three different Middle Keys bridges with a different captain each night.

Captain Jared Dieguez, second from right, took top captain with 22 releases to his credit.

Captain Jared Dieguez, second from right, took top captain with 22 releases to his credit.

This article was updated on October 27, 2023 at 9:36 AM
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