Carolina Reel Men Win Islamorada Sailfish Tournament

ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — Anglers from North Carolina and the Florida Keys, fishing on Carolina Reel Men with Islamorada, Florida Captain Sean O’Donnell, clinched their win at the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament that concluded Sunday, Dec. 8.

Jonathan Bickett and Steve McLaughlin, both from Charlotte, North Carolina, along with Islamorada residents Jimmy Hendrix, Ramiro Hildalgo-Gato, Doug Mientkiewicz and Hudson Wampler plus Marathon’s Brandon Simmons, fished their way to victory with a total of 18 sailfish releases to claim a cash prize of $30,240.

Team members also received original artwork by Islamorada artist Pasta Pantaleo.

In addition to contributing to the Carolina Reel Men team award, Hendrix won top male angler and the Bill Hirni Memorial High Point Angler award with his six releases.

Now in its 61st year, the tournament kicks off the renowned triple-crown Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship Series.

Logan Spaulding, fishing on the Res Ipsa Liquidur with Captain KC Spaulding — both of Islamorada —released two sailfish to take the top lady angler award.

Hudson Wampler, fishing on Carolina Reel Men, released three sailfish to earn the top junior angler title in the tournament — the only Gold Cup event with a junior angler division for entrants ages 18 or younger at the start of the tournament.

Team Legasea with Islamorada’s Captain Joey Spaulding placed second on time with nine sailfish releases. Legasea’s anglers were Ben Bruhn and Daniel Mesaros from Delray Beach, Florida; Ricardo Linale of Islamorada; Cole Tristram from Tavernier, Florida; and Nick Maszaros from Marathon, Florida.

Killbox, with Captain Cody Darby and anglers Tyler and Jordan Kelley from Bartow, Florida; Corbin Buckley of Islamorada and Marathon residents Joe Marina and Clint “Digger” Rodamer, took third place with nine releases.

Based at Whale Harbor in Islamorada, the tournament drew 76 participants, according to organizers. A total of 87 sailfish were released out of the 100 hookups called in.

At the close of the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament, team Killbox with 9 sailfish releases tops the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship leaderboard. Skipjac Fishing Team holds second place in the series with 8, and Trophy Hunter holds third place with 6 releases.

The next leg of the series is the Islamorada Fishing Club Sailfish Tournament set for Jan. 14-15, followed by the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament Jan. 17-19. The Florida Keys Gold Cup champions are to be crowned at the Presidential tournament’s awards ceremony.

The Islamorada Sailfish Tournament is the primary fundraiser for the Islamorada Charter Boat Association.