Islamorada Sailfish Tournament to Launch Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship

SLAMORADA, Florida Keys — The Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship triple-crown series is to open with the 60th annual Islamorada Sailfish Tournament set for Thursday, Nov. 30, through Sunday, Dec. 3. The tournament is a primary fundraiser for the Islamorada Charter Boat Association.   

Social events, to be headquartered at the Whale Harbor Inn and Marina complex at mile marker 83 in Islamorada, are to begin with registration, cocktails, a gala kick-off banquet and rules meeting Thursday, Nov. 30. 

All-release fishing, where teams score 100 points for each released sailfish, is set for 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1-2, and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. Awards and raffle prize drawings follow.

Optional categories offer boat teams more opportunities to win prize money. Additional entry fees are elective and are not required to enter the tournament, according to organizers. Categories include Day by Day, Overall Entry, Grand Puba, Go Big and a Fun Fish entry.

Tournament entry fees are $695 for the first angler fishing aboard a vessel and $575 for each additional angler, with a few spaces remaining available. Fees increase to $795 and $675, respectively, if paid after Oct. 31. The junior angler (under age 16) entry fee is $350. 

The Islamorada Sailfish Tournament is the only one in the triple-crown series to offer a junior division for anglers age 16 and younger. 

The two subsequent fishing events in the Gold Cup Series are the Islamorada Fishing Club Captain’s Cup Sailfish Tournament scheduled Jan. 16-17, 2024, and the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament set for Jan. 19-21, 2024, when the series culminates and an overall Gold Cup Series champion is crowned.

Registration: islamoradasailfishtournament.com/ or Dianne Harbaugh at 305-522-4868