Key West Marlin Tournament to Offer $50,000 in Cash Prizes
KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Anglers can follow the lead of legendary writer Ernest Hemingway, who pursued marlin and other gamefish in Florida Keys waters in the 1930s, Wednesday through Saturday, July 17-20.
Teams in the Key West Marlin Tournament are to target blue marlin, white marlin, spearfish and “fun fish” species while competing for a $50,000 cash purse.
Teams that accumulate the most points for marlin and spearfish during the tournament’s three fishing days are to share $40,000 cash. All billfish must be released to quality for prizes.
Teams also can earn points by entering one fun fish (dolphin fish, tuna, wahoo or released sailfish) per boat per day. Minimum weight for dolphin, wahoo and tuna is 15 pounds.
Boats in the marlin division also can enter the fun fish division to compete for an additional $10,000. Cash prizes are to be presented for the three heaviest dolphin fish, wahoo and tuna (yellowfin, blackfin or skipjack). Minimum weight for those species is 15 pounds.
The tournament takes place in conjunction with Key West’s Hemingway Days, staged July 16-21 to celebrate the vigorous sporting lifestyle and literary excellence of Ernest Hemingway, who lived in Key West for most of the 1930s.
Final tournament registration is scheduled at 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, in the ballroom at the Opal Key Resort & Marina, 245 Front St. A captains meeting, reception, auction and raffle are to follow.
Fishing is set for 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 18 and 19; and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 20. Weigh-ins are 4-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 3-5 p.m. Saturday at Stock Island Marina Village, 7005 Shrimp Road.
Tournament social events include a waterfront dinner and an island-style pig roast. Saturday night’s awards banquet and silent auction are scheduled at the Opal Key Resort & Marina, with events beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The marlin division boat entry fee, allowing two anglers to fish and including social privileges for four, is $2,550 per boat. There is no maximum number of anglers per boat, but additional anglers must pay $250 apiece. Entry in the fun fish division is an additional $450 per boat.
Tournament information and registration: keywestmarlin.com
Teams compete for big cash prizes in the hotly contested Key West Marlin Tournament.
Teams can earn points in the fun fish division, which includes wahoo, dolphin fish, tuna and released sailfish.
The tournament takes place in conjunction with Key West’s Hemingway Days Festival that celebrate the vigorous sporting lifestyle and literary excellence of Ernest Hemingway, who lived in Key West for most of the 1930s.