KEY LARGO, Florida Keys — Captains, mates, ladies, juniors and seniors are all eligible to fish the annual Skippers Dolphin Tournament, one of the Upper Keys’ most popular summertime fun fishing tournaments. Presented by Island Arms and Indoor Range, the challenge is set for Friday through Sunday, June 2-4.
Significant prize money is to be shared by the event’s top six teams including $20,000 cash to the overall first-place team, $10,000 for second place and $5,000 for third place. Also to be awarded are cash prizes to the leading daily angler and leading lady, senior and junior anglers.
A kickoff, final registration party and captains meeting is to be held Friday, June 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Skippers Dockside Restaurant. Serving as tournament headquarters, the restaurant is located at 528 Caribbean Drive behind the Holiday Inn at mile marker 100.
Fishing begins at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, followed by a dockside party each fishing day and an awards event following Sunday's weigh-in and party. Anglers must get their fish to the weigh-in by 5 p.m. each day.
Eligible species for the tournament are dolphin fish, tuna, wahoo and kingfish. Only dolphin fish are to be eligible for overall prizes. Each team may weigh in two dolphin per day and the combined weight of a teams’ three largest fish is to determine the winners.
Online registration is recommended, according to organizers. Junior anglers must be under age 16 and seniors at least age 65 on the first day of the tournament.
Nonrefundable early entry fees are $275 per angler until June 1. In-person registration is available Friday for $350 per angler. An unlimited number of anglers is allowed per boat.
Event information and registration: skipperstournaments.com
Key Largo visitor information: fla-keys.com/keylargo or 800-822-1088
Florida Keys fishing information: fla-keys.com/fishing
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