14 September 2018
KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Jim Bokor Jr. of Buffalo, New York, earned the title of grand champion angler at the Robert-James Sales S.L.A.M. Tournament that ended Sept. 9 in the Florida Keys.
The veteran angler, who has won the tournament in past years, released 11 bonefish, five tarpon and one permit while fishing with Captain Richard Black of Islamorada, Florida.
As well as taking overall honors, Bokor was named the general division champion and scored the tournament’s most bonefish releases.
In addition, Bokor and teammate Ron Kucinski of Buffalo took top team honors. Kucinski contributed six bonefish and one permit to the team’s tally.
Second place in the team division went to Jeff Parrish of Buffalo and angling partner Bill Burkard. Fishing with Captain Eric Herstedt of Homestead, Florida, Parrish released 10 tarpon, five bonefish and one permit, while Burkard released three tarpon and two bonefish.
Parrish also was the first runner-up angler and scored the tournament’s most tarpon releases.
Key West’s Loren Rea was named the top female angler and fly division champion after releasing nine tarpon and one bonefish. She was guided by Captain Bo Sellers of Summerland Key, Florida.
Celebrity grand champion was former Boston Red Sox baseball player Mike Greenwell. Greenwell released one tarpon, one bonefish and one permit fishing with Key West’s Captain Sean O’Keefe.
The S.L.A.M. drew 14 teams that collectively released 52 bonefish, 41 tarpon and 7 permit.
The tournament is part of an annual Florida Keys trilogy of Redbone challenges that raises money for cystic fibrosis treatment and research. The trilogy continues with the Robert-James Sales Baybone Tournament Oct. 5-7 and the Robert-James Sales Redbone Tournament Nov. 2-4. Both take place in Islamorada waters.
###