DANIA BEACH, Fla., U.S.A. – Two South Carolina anglers will join 27 other fly and light-tackle title holders from as far away as Africa and Australia who are headed to the Florida Keys and the seventh annual IGFA Inshore World Championship (IWC), July 8 – 11 in Islamorada.
Amy Bennett, of Charleston, won the Redbone@Large Lowcountry Red*Trout Celebrity Classic, in Charleston, and Baker Bishop, Sullivans Island, won the first Stu Apte Fly Fishing Salifish Tournament, in Golfito Costa Rica for each to qualify for the bids to the championship.
The 23 men and six women gained entry as winners in one of over 55 fly and light tackle IGFA sanctioned tournaments during 2006 held in eight countries around the world and in 12 U.S. states, representing nearly 3,000 anglers on four continents vying for the “tournament of champions.”
“Fourteen of these champions will be first time invitees to the tournament, one from as far away as Uganda, Africa, and the other from Darwin, North Territory of Australia,” said Ms. Denise Hartman, IGFA tournament coordinator.
Dubbed the “super bowl of inshore fishing,” the celebrated world-class inshore catch-and-release format features anglers stalking bonefish, tarpon, permit, snook and redfish on Florida Bay.
“The IGFA IWC continues to attract some of the finest men and women fly and light tackle anglers to gather and compete in one of the highest rated fishing regions with top rated guides,” said Ms. Hartman. “This event brings well over 125 anglers, guides, spouses, tournament officials and sponsors together for four days to the Florida Keys.”
Since its inception the tournament has been held in Islamorada, hailed as the “sportfishing capital of the world,” located in the middle of the Keys.
On the opening night the anglers participate in a captain’s draw matching a different guide and angler each day. The IWC features three days of fishing with the contestants vying for engraved timepieces. The four major award categories include: Grand Champion (the angler who accumulates the most points for all five targeted species); and first places in the fly, artificial lure and bait casting divisions. There are also trophies and merchandise for second and third place divisional winners in the three categories as well as to the top three guides.
The point value of the fish is determined by species and the angler’s preference choice of fly fishing, artificial lure or bait, added tournament director Mike Myatt.
“There’s always lots of strategizing and mind games,” said Myatt. “Some anglers will use one approach or all three over the three days. With so many different fishing disciplines represented by the qualifying champions, this format levels the on-the-water playing field. The rotating guide and angler format relieves the ‘home field’ advantage to a degree and lends itself to maximizing not only the angler’s strengths, but also the guide’s.”
“July is a great time to fish in the Keys for the five species. The one big variable will be the weather,” as the anglers have dodged storms and hurricanes in past years, he added.
A past champion Robert Collins, Naples, Fla., who won in 2005 said, “I love the format because of the tough challenging competition plus you’re working with great guides. It makes you think and plan and use the attributes of the guide and angler each day. It’s always tough for the fly anglers especially with a couple of species like permit and snook.”
Like the Masters in professional golf, past champions are invited perpetually. Jose Lopez, Miami, Fla., will defend his title though Collins, “re-qualified,” by winning an IGFA sanctioned event.
The Islander Resort is again the tournament headquarters, with fishing and daily scorekeeping taking place from the World Wide Sportsman marina. Both are located near mile marker 82.
Pasta Pantaleo is the official artist of the IWC.
Sponsors this year include Mercury Outboards, Bacardi, Costa Del Mar, G. Loomis, Hook and Tackle, Islamorada Fish Co., Islander Resort, King Sailfish Mounts, Rapala, Shimano, Stiffy Push Poles, 3M Scientific Anglers, Reel Life Art, World Wide Sportsman, Zane Grey Lounge, KD & G Sea Life Masterpieces, Redbone Gallery, Image Graphics 2000, Momoi and Daiichi.
The International Game Fish Association is a not-for-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping. It was founded in 1939 and has members in over 125 countries. The association welcomes visitors to their 60,000 square foot IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach, Florida. The IGFA web site is igfa.org.
For further information, contact Ms. Hartman at the IGFA, 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, Florida 33004; (954) 927-2628; Fax (954) 924-4299; Email: DHartman@igfa.org.
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