Georgia and Florida Anglers Win Key Largo’s Skippers Dolphin Tournament

KEY LARGO, Florida Keys — Team Hurricane II reeled in first place in the 10th annual Skippers Dolphin Tournament that ended June 2 at Skippers Dockside Restaurant in Key Largo. The challenge drew a field of 278 anglers fishing from 73 boats.  

Captained by Skye Stanley of Islamorada, Florida, Hurricane II’s team of Josh Hufstetler of Thomasville, Georgia, and Matthew Carlton from Tallahassee, Florida, captured first place and $27,980 with a combined weight of 41.1 pounds for three dolphin fish caught over two days of fishing. Hufstetler’s 29.9-pounder earned him $8,485 for the largest dolphin fish caught on the tournament’s first day, bringing the team’s total winnings to $36,465.  

Shaka Kai was the second-place team, winning $15,985 for a combined weight of 39.5 pounds for three dolphin fish. Consisting of Captain Joshua Holmes of Homestead, Florida, Ryan Clevenger of Grandville, Ohio, and Shawn Shipman of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Shaka Kai brought in additional cash prizes of $6,844 for Shipman’s 15-pound mahi-mahi, the second-largest fish on day two; and $500 for Holmes’ 20.3 pounder, the third-largest fish on day one, for total team winnings of $23,329.

In third place was Team Crazyfish, with Florida anglers from Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Key Biscayne who caught three dolphin fish that totaled 36 pounds to win $5,000.

The second-largest fish on day one weighed 20.8 pounds, with a payout of $4,990 for Daniel Frade of Fort Pierce, Florida, fishing on Putemindakoola.

The largest fish on day two, weighing 16.7 pounds, was caught by Daniel Gonzalez of Ormond Beach, Florida, aboard team Net Worker with a prize of $2,500. 

Jill Paglia from Ocala, Florida, won $2,000 for the largest fish caught by a lady angler with 13.6 pounds aboard Executive Decision. 

The award for the largest fish caught by a senior angler and a $1,000 prize went to Paul Knapp of Pompano Beach, Florida, for an 8.2-pound fish aboard Pauly’s Girl. 

The top junior angler, Brock Stoky of Key Largo, won $500 for his 7.3-pound fish caught on the Reel Stoked. 

The “largest other species fish” winners each took home a King Sailfish Mount trophy and $750. They were Deep Green angler Michael Born from Key Largo with a 10-pound kingfish; Eco Marine’s Lindsay Nara of Port Charlotte, Florida, who caught a 13.7-pound wahoo; and Jessie Hall from Islamorada with a 16.9-pound tuna caught while fishing on Salt Shaker.