Florida Keys Gold Cup Series Continues with IFC Sailfish Tournament
ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — A field of elite anglers is to compete in the Islamorada Fishing Club Captain’s Cup Sailfish Tournament set for Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 14-15. The all-release challenge is the second tournament in the three-pronged Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship series.
Participants vie for a notable cash payout and the chance to tally points toward the coveted Gold Cup Series champion status.
According to organizers, the IFC tournament’s cash payout equates to $1,000 per registered boat, so if the maximum field of 25 boats is met, the winner-take-all prize is to reach $25,000.
Up to four anglers are allowed per boat and the boat team that accumulates the most release points first is judged the winner. Each released sailfish is worth 100 points.
The event is to get underway Tuesday, Jan. 14, with final registration and cocktails at 6 p.m., followed by a rules meeting and dinner at 7 p.m., at the club’s temporary location at 80939 Overseas Highway.
Wednesday’s angling action is to start with lines-in at 8 a.m. and continue until lines-out at 4 p.m.
Activities Wednesday evening are to include an awards celebration and dinner at the club. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres are scheduled for 6:30-7 p.m., immediately followed by an awards banquet.
Entry forms are available online at theislamoradafishingclub.com. Until Jan. 4, the early registration entry fee is $2,500 per team of two anglers. Each additional angler is $350, with up to two additional anglers allowed per boat. After Jan. 4, fees increase to $2,800 and $400, respectively.
Entry to the social events is included for the anglers, captain and mate on participating boat teams. Extra tickets for non-anglers — for both the Tuesday night meeting and dinner and the Wednesday night awards banquet — can be purchased for $85 each.
Established in 1950, the Islamorada Fishing Club embraces core values of conservation, recreational fishing and strong family and community bonds among avid fishermen.
The 2024-25 Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish series, whose foundation also is rooted in conservation and sportsmanship, began with December’s Islamorada Sailfish Tournament. Last in the series is the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament set for Jan. 17-19.
Upon its conclusion, the overall Gold Cup Series individual and team champions are to be crowned. The individual high-point angler is to receive a championship ring.
Information and registration: theislamoradafishingclub.com, ditournaments@aol.com or Dianne Harbaugh at 305-522-4868
