Part of the acclaimed Redbone at Large series of fishing tournaments, the 11th annual Don Gurgiolo Sailfish Classic is set for Friday through Sunday, Dec. 10-12, in Islamorada.
The tournament honors the late Captain Don Gurgiolo for his more than 50 years of fishing in the Florida Keys. Gurgiolo was one of the pioneers of fishing offshore with light tackle and live ballyhoo, the primary technique used today. He was captain of the Gonfishin’ charter boats until he retired and sold the Gonfishin’ V in 1995. The well-liked skipper died in 1999.
The weekend of sailfishing is to start with registration at 6 p.m. Friday at Whale Harbor Marina, mile marker (MM) 83.5 oceanside. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres follow, with a rules meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Fishing on Saturday is scheduled to run from lines-in at 8:30 a.m. to lines-out at 4:30 p.m. A dock standings party is set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Wahoo’s Bar and Grill at Whale Harbor.
Sunday’s fishing runs 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by 6:30 p.m. beachside cocktails at Marker 88 Restaurant, MM 88 bayside, and an awards dinner buffet at 7:30 p.m.
Boat teams compete in the all-release tournament, and the boat accumulating the most release points will be judged the winner. An individual tagging trophy is to be awarded for the most tagged sailfish.
As in past years, tournament winners qualify for the 2011 International Game Fish Association Offshore Championship to be held in Islamorada.
Tournament entry fee is $525 for the first angler aboard a vessel and $475 for each additional angler on that vessel, up to four per boat. To register, call Tammie Gurgiolo at 305-240-9337 or e-mail [email protected].
For area accommodations, call the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce at 305-664-4503 or 800-322-5397By: Andy Newman/Carol Shaughnessy
