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MARCH 12 – 14, 2010
Registration, Friday, March 12th, 6 to 8 pm
At the DoubleTree Grand Key Resort
3990 S. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, FL
BOAT ENTRY FEE OF $200.00
Fishing, Saturday & Sunday, March 13 & 14
Lines In at 8:30 am & Out at 3 pm each day
Awards Dinner on Sunday, March 14th, 7 pm
At the DoubleTree Grand Key Resort
Awards Dinner, $25.00 per person
WIN $5,000.00 in Cash Prizes
For 15 Different Species
Win $500.00 cash for:
Heaviest Dolphin,
Most Releases of:
Marlin, Sailfi sh & Tarpon
Win $300.00 cash for:
Heaviest Kingfi sh, Cobia
Blackfi n Tuna, Mackerel,
Mutton Snapper, Wahoo
Most Releases of: Permit,
Bonefi sh & Barracuda
Win $150.00 cash for:
Heaviest Mangrove Snapper & Grunt
Junior Division Heaviest Catch
(Anglers under 15 yrs. old)
KEY WEST FISHING TOURNAMENT
KICKOFF 2010 with
CONCHY JOE’S MARINE & TACKLE
1. I.G.F.A. rules and Key West Fishing Tournament rules
will apply. Rod and reel only.
2. All Marlin or Sailfi sh releases must deploy non-offset
circle hooks when using natural baits or a natural
bait artifi cial/lure combination.
3. All catches must be unassisted. Professional
captains and/or mates are ineligible as anglers.
4. NEW~‘Most Releases’ will be scored by registered
boat.
5. Entries will only be accepted from anglers fi shing on
a boat that is registered in the KICKOFF.
6. A maximum of 6 anglers may fi sh from a registered
boat on each day. This rule does not apply to
registered party boats.
7. Anglers wishing to compete for marlin or sailfi sh
releases must purchase a camera at registration
to photo the release. Cost is $5.00. Anglers do not
have to call in releases to the committee boat.
8. Fishing begins with lines in at 8:30 am each day and
will conclude at lines out at 3:00 pm each day. Lines
in and out will be called by the committee boat over
VHF 78.
9. All fi sh must be weighed in at one of the following
offi cial K.W.F.T. weighstations: King’s Pointe Marina,
Sunset Marina, Murray Marine, Sugarloaf Marina,
Cudjoe Gardens Marina and Dolphin Marina.
10. Anglers MUST complete an offi cial K.W.F.T. entry
form for weighed and released catches and deliver
the entry to a tournament offi cial at King’s Pointe
Marina, or fax entry to 305-292-4995. Entries MUST
be received by an offi cial no later than 5:30 pm each
day. Weighed catches can be transported by vehicle
to a weighstation for entry.
KICKOFF TOURNAMENT GENERAL RULES
FINAL RULES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AT
REGISTRATION ON MARCH 12, 2010
AT DOUBLETREE GRAND KEY RESORT
KEY WEST FISHING TOURNAMENT
KICKOFF 2010 ENTRY
ANGLER’S FIRST & LAST NAME,
ADDRESS, CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE
Boat Name: ______________________________
Captain: ________________________________
Address: ________________________________
City, ST, Zip: _____________________________
Home Phone: ___________________________
Cell Phone: _____________________________
PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY
To pre-register, complete entry form and mail to the
K. W. F. T., P. O. Box 2154, Key West, FL 33045.
Include registration fee of $200.00 payable to
the Key West Fishing Tournament.
PICK UP THE FINAL TOURNAMENT RULES AND CAMERA
FOR SAILFISH & MARLIN RELEASES AT THE REGISTRATION,
FRIDAY, MARCH 12th AT THE DOUBLETREE GRAND RESORT
1. _______________________________________
___________________________________________
2. _______________________________________
___________________________________________
3. _______________________________________
___________________________________________
4. _______________________________________
___________________________________________
5. _______________________________________
___________________________________________
6. _______________________________________
___________________________________________

These last few days of September have been blessedly calm with no impending doom on the horizon – yet. However the fish could care less . Bait is thick on the reefs and more Ballyhoo than we have later in the season. This is setting up some great Tuna and Sailfish action  in the coming weeks . Blackfins are being caught deep already and a few Sailfish that got the memo on the Ballyhoo are moving in on the reef already. The Gulfstream despite what NOAA says is in close (10 miles) and is producing Dolphin and Wahoo, especially around debris for the hoo’s.

A lot of people come to Key West to party, A lot of people come to Key West to fish, and I guess there are people who come to Key West for some other reason , but I don’t know any of those reasons.

Well these guys came to party and fish . The fishing was great and the party was so good that I am bound by the code of the sea and responsible Key West charter captain ethics to not divulge details. I will say I was impressed .

But I can go on about the Big Dolphin and nice Wahoo we brought in and I can go on and on about fishing and catching all day.

Here is Rusty and some kind of ritual fish blessing.

and then there is the mandatory Key West group fishing shot

and the trophy  shot, thanks guys it was a blast.

Once in a while the world wide web brings a call from the past. Some great friends from, well I guess I really should not say how long ago besides not knowing for sure and not wanting to be rude I will say at least a prior life if not two, were coming to Key West . They googled me up ( should that be capitalized as a verb? ) and we got together for a boat ride that turned into a fishing trip. A few wahoo are being caught when the seas lay down and we put some lures in and cruised for wahoo and caught up on old times.  Not long and the big strike came. I was ready to heat up the pan when this beautiful trophy Key West Sailfish leapt into the air and danced around for about 30 minutes till Alan brought the fish to the side of the boat. We released the fish and on to something to eat. Beata caught several Bonita but, not really the fish to eat. By now we were really hungry and low on beer so off we go to take advantage of the Stone Crabs at the Rusty Anchor.

When it is time for big fish , plenty of sunshine, and a lot of fun out of town, these guys from Oslo chose Key West. Espen and his crew had there hands full with big Wahoo and Dolphin fishing along The Wall and in the Ups & Downs . The official weights are secret and you will just have to ask them how big they really were.

Oh, I almost forgot  there secret weapon “Sweetie”

Another Chamber of Commerce day in Key West . Light winds , sunny skies , calm seas, clear blue water and BIG FISH. In particular I’m talking about Wylie’s 50+ lb. Wahoo he caught today. After running off at least 500 yards of 30# line in the first run , this guy kept at it and ran at least 10 more times ( thank goodness not 500 yards each time). After catching the fish we had to alter the rotation of anglers for a while. Nice job on an excellent fish !

Troll or not to troll , that is the question when it comes to finding big fish. There are many factors to consider before trolling in Key West : weather conditions, seasonal considerations and angler skill all go into how to hunt for the big ones. However when a big Wahoo takes off at 40mph or more and everyone is “helping” you at the top of their lungs catching a big Wahoo is especially sweet .

click for BIG

Last Week we had the pleasure of taking Mark and Karyn and friends fishing here in Key West. It was a little rainy in the morning, but nothing serious , with sunny skies by afternoon. The Dolphin were the first to show and a few fish latter and a nice Wahoo was in the boat . More fish and it was adding up to a very good day. Late in the afternoon we spotted some birds and we hooked up a larger than normal Sailfish for this time of year. Mark and Karyn are traveling the country and recording their adventures on there blog. For a completely different look on how this trip went check out their entry on Key West Fishing Trip. http://www.mytripjournal.com/ev/286311