One of South Florida’s largest fishing tournaments, the annual Coconuts Dolphin Tournament, is set for Thursday through Sunday, May 17-20, in Key Largo. The event typically attracts more than 400 strategy-minded anglers looking to capture up to $50,000 in cash and prizes.
A grand prize of $10,000 cash is to go to the angler who brings the heaviest dolphin to the weigh station. If that fish exceeds 63.9 pounds – the current tournament record – the angler wins a two-year lease on a silver 2012 Honda Ridgeline RT pickup truck valued at more than $10,000 in addition to other prizes.
Registration is set for Thursday, May 17, at Coconuts Restaurant, near mile marker 100 oceanside in Key Largo.
A mini warm-up tournament, exclusive of the weekend’s two-day tournament, is set for Friday, May 18, with $2,000 in cash and prizes for first- through third-place anglers.
Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20, anglers compete for the $10,000 grand prize or one of the other cash prizes awarded to first- through sixth-place finishers. Cash prizes also are awarded in divisions for female, senior (age 60 and over) and junior (age 17 and under) anglers.
A standings party with live entertainment and prizes is to follow the first day’s tournament fishing. A barbecue dinner with an awards ceremony is to take place Sunday at Coconuts after the weigh-in concludes at 5 p.m.
Early entry fee is $150 per adult angler if received by April 28, and includes a T-shirt, gift bag, complimentary drink tickets and admission to the awards ceremony and barbecue. After April 28 the entry fee is $170 per adult angler. The entry fee is $50 for junior anglers and social-only tickets.By: Andy Newman/Carol Shaughnessy
