The Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys/ University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame (UMSHoF) Celebrity Fishing Tournament Presented by Yamaha and Caribee Boat Sales has wrapped its sixth annual tournament.
The event took place June 24-25 at Founders Park at Mile Marker 87 on the Overseas Highway in Islamorada. The tournament gives anglers the opportunity to fish alongside some of their favorite Hurricanes All-Stars and mingle with dozens of celebrity participants.
The tournament continues to be a huge success with over 500 participants, making it one of the largest tournaments in the Florida Keys.
This year’s tournament was co-hosted by University of Miami Hall of Famers and football greats, Alonzo Highsmith and Melvin Bratton.
The tournament weekend began Friday evening with a kickoff party, final boat registration, silent auction and captains’ meeting followed on Saturday by a full day of fishing. On Saturday afternoon, while the offshore boats weighed their fish and the inshore boats turned in their score cards, Centennial Bank provided a barbecue for the participants and spectators.
After all the fish were weighed and the inshore score cards tallied the results were the following:
OFFSHORE DIVISION:
First Place, Tracy Kerdyk on See Shores with a 35.5-pound dolphin, winning $3,000;
Second Place, Luke Waddell on Stage Two with a 29.1-pound dolphin, winning $2,000, and
Third Place, Chris Martinez on Monster Catch with a 26.9-pound dolphin, winning $1,000;
Top Lady Anger, Tracy Kerdyk, and Top Junior, Luke Waddell. King of Fish, Jim Marco on Priority with a 19.7-pound Wahoo, winning $500.
ADDED VALUE CATEGORIES:
Master of the Ocean, Contagious with 108.1 points, winning $5,865;
First Place Bucket of Bucks, Monster Catch with 68.8 points, winning $1,615;
Second Place Bucket of Bucks, Contagious with 60.6 points, winning $969.00, and
Third Place Bucket of Bucks, Tiki with 48.8 points, winning $646.
INSHORE DIVISION:
Grand Slam Winner, Luca Musico on Line Management with 70.5 overall points;
Longest Sea Trout, Kathy Gillen on Dave Denkert, 23 inches;
Longest Snook, Luca Musico on Line Management, 30.5 inches, and
Longest Redfish, Kathy Gillen on Dave Denkert, 20 inches.
The weigh-in was followed by the Grady White Boats Awards Dinner catered by Mangrove Mike’s Café. There were auctions, music, games and more.
A portion of the tournament proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys, The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, Coastal Conservation Association and the UMSHoF.
“We are pleased to have Yamaha Motors and Caribee Boats as presenting sponsors for our sixth annual University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Fishing Tournament,” said Gerard Loisel, president of the UMSHoF. “It is thanks to the commitment of these, and all of our great sponsors, donors and participants that our tournament continues to grow each year.”
For more information visit www.canesfish.com, call 305-667-0399 or contact the tournament director, Judy Layne at judy@canesfish.com.
