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The 61st Annual Islamorada Sailfish Tournament, the first leg of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship, took place from December 5-8, 2024 . The 76 anglers participating in the tournament released 87 sailfish from 100 hookups over three days of fishing.
The event kicked off with a grand buffet at the iconic Whale Harbor Restaurants and Marina, welcoming anglers, captains, mates, friends, and family. Fishing conditions were favorable throughout the tournament, and the competition was intense.
Carolina Reel Men, a 37-foot Freeman captained by Sean O’Donnell, got off to a hot start on Day One releasing 13 sailfish, including a triple header to start the day. Relentless, a custom 48 captained by Paul Ross captained followed with four releases, while Back in Business, a 35-foot Contender led by Capt. Robert Collins, held third with three.
Day Two saw strong morning action, with Legasea, a 45-foot Lemay captained by Joey Spaulding, adding eight releases to climb into contention. Carolina Reel Men maintained their lead, releasing two more fish, while the rest of the fleet kept the competition tight.
On the final day, northeast winds challenged anglers, but Carolina Reel Men sealed their victory with three additional releases, bringing their tournament total to 18. Legasea released nine sails to secure their second-place finish, while Killbox, a 50-foot Forbes captained by Cody Darby, third place with their nine releases on the day.
Individual honors went to Jimmy Hendrix from Carolina Reel Men as Top Angler, Logan Spaulding from LegaSea as Top Lady Angler, and Hudson Wampler from Carolina Reel Men as Top Junior Angler.
“Whale Harbor served up another great event,” said tournament director Dianne Harbaugh. “They always know how to make this event special for all the anglers and their guests.”
The next legs of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship will take place in January, concluding with the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament.
