The Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation hosted the Light Tackle Sailfish Tournament for the 67th year. This year, the Club switched things up a little bit by adding a meat division, a $12,000 winner takes all cash prize for the Light Tackle, and a Ladies only day. Ten boats registered to fish the Light Tackle with an additional four fishing the Ladies Day. The weather for the Light Tackle was calm and sunny, while the ladies had a little rougher time with the elements.
The focus was to assist a local organization, The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, a no kill animal shelter and Miss Victory Leidner, seven-year-old daughter of local charter boat captain Billy Leidner, in her fight against T-Cell Lymphoma.
Once again, keeping with social distancing guidelines, the club kept registration evening brief with a preview of silent auction items.. Final registration for the tournament brought in a couple more boats to top off the total. Overall, for the three days there were 101 sailfish releases and limited meat fish brought to the weigh-in.
Results
- 1st Place: Vintage, 21 releases.
- 2nd Place: Game Changer, 14 releases.
- 3rd Place: Lo Que Sea, 12 Releases.
- Top Angler: Thomas Garmony, Vintage.
- Top Captain: Hans Kraaz, Vintage.
- Top Mates: Elliot Curry, Daniel Longstreet, Tyler Beckford, Thomas Garmony, Vintage.
- Dailies: Vintage, 10 release the first day, and 11 on the second.
- 1st Sailfish Release: Paul Dozer, Lo Que Sea.
- Heaviest Dolphin: Joe Finnemore, Kingsbury, 14.31 lbs.
- Heaviest Tuna: David Orr, Holy Mackerel, 20.48 lbs.
- Overall Aggregate: Ty Me Up, 28.59 lbs.
Ladies Day Tournament
- 1st Place: Ty Me Up, 6.
- 2nd Place: Fish Hog, 4
- 3rd Place: Lo Que Sea, 3.
- First Sailfish Release: Allie Schelin at 8:31 a.m., Lo Que Sea.
- Top Lady Angler: Kelly Kirkpatrick, Ty Me Up, 4.
- Overall Aggregate: Fish Hog, 23.49 pounds
- Heaviest Dolphin: Kelly Johnson, Fish Hog, 9.8 pounds
- Heaviest Kingfish: Lexe Johnson, My Other Honey, 12.34 pounds
- Heaviest Tuna: Brittany Baumgartner, Fish Hog, 13.69 pounds
The Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation donated $10,000 for Ms. Victory Leidner and $5,000 for The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast.
For more information about the 67th Annual Light Tackle Sailfish Tournament, go to www.StuartSailfishClub.com/tournaments or www.facebook.com/stuartsailfish club. The Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation in a 501(c)3, not for profit organization.
The Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation is in Stuart, Florida, the “Sailfish Capital of the World”. They were formed more than 79 years ago and incorporated in January of 1941. The Stuart Sailfish Club is one of the oldest sport fishing and social clubs in the United States, formed for the purpose of promoting the conservation of game fish and encouraging visitors to fish in Martin County waters. For more information, call (772) 286-9373 or email them at sailfish@stuartsailfishclub.com.
