| Lower
Keys Chamber of Commerce
16th Annual Big Pine and Lower Keys Dolphin Tournament
During the weekend of June 12th, 13th & 14th 2009,
the Big Pine and Lower Keys Dolphin Tournament hosted 231
anglers, fishing aboard 96 boats. 47% of the anglers traveled
from outside Monroe County. Captain’s meeting, weigh-ins
and the awards banquet took place at Boondocks’ Grille,
Draft House & Miniature Golf. Sponsorships from Williamson
Lures, Sufix, VMC, Rapala, Cudjoe Sales Fishermen’s
Warehouse, Eagle Distributors, LTD, Key West Auto Web, Sweetwater
Homes of the Florida Keys, Kilo Kai Rum, AT & T The Real
Yellow Pages, Floridakeys.com, News-Barometer and Boondocks
Grille, Draft House & Miniature Golf contributed some
of the many prizes, raffle and auction items and giveaways
presented during the tournament.
Weigh masters Captain Dave Wiley, Noel Kartman and Tim
Saunders weighed in 113 Dolphin, 5 Tuna and 1 Wahoo, many
of the dolphin in the 20 to 30 lb range.
Trophies co-sponsored by Williamson Lures and the Monroe
County Tourist Development Council and cash prizes were awarded
to:
Open Division: (210
anglers
in this division)
|
|
1st Place Steve McKenna winning $5000, Cudjoe Key, Fl with a 36.70lb Dolphin
aboard the Cudjoe Cuda |
2nd
Place Keith Wilkinson winning $2,000, MacClenny, Fl
with a 36.20lb Dolphin aboard the General Quarters |
| 3rd
Place Ted Yoho winning $1,000, Gainesville, Fl with a
36.05lb Dolphin aboard the Salt Shaker |
| 4th
Place Kevin Freestone winning $800.00, Big Pine Key,
Fl with a 34.15lb Dolphin aboard the New Mystery |
Shimano Baitrunner 4500 Reels with Shimano Saragosa 7’ Rods
and Trophies were awarded to:
Youth Division: (21
anglers in this division) |
|
1st Place Youth Mike Malvsio, Jr., SW Ranches, Fl 27.45lb Dolphin Aboard the
Swallow the Leader
|
| 2nd
Place Youth Chris Franco, SW Ranches, Fl with a 24.65lb Dolphin
Aboard the Swallow the Leader |
| 3rd
Place Youth Justin Williams, Venice, Fl with a 23.15lb Dolphin
aboard the Sand Shaker |
| Top
Lady Angler Top Lady Juliane Renner winning $300, Big Pine
Key, Fl with a 29.65lb Dolphin aboard the Sea U |
Special Awards
Shimano TLD25 Reel with Shimano Tallus 6’6” Rods
donated by Cudjoe Sales Fishermen’s Warehouse were
awarded to Bill O’Quinn of Immokalee, Fl fishing aboard
the Gator Done for catching a 17.70 pound Tuna and to Steve
Rudolph of Big Pine Key, Florida fishing aboard the Grumpy
Grouper for bringing in a 57.55 pound Wahoo.
The Chamber’s Hard Luck Banana Award went to Paul
Horan of Big Pine Key, Fl fishing aboard the Dusky who was
fishing with Mike McKinley who drove his wheelchair into
the canal prior to boarding; the boat was then almost hit
by a freighter in 950 feet of water and later broke down
in 700 feet and had to be towed to the dock by TowBoat US.
It was announced the 17th Annual Big Pine & Lower Keys
Dolphin Tournament will be held June 11th, 12th, & 13th,
2010.
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