Events

JULY 4th WORLD CUP NEWS

Teams are gearing up around the world to compete in the unique 24th annual World Cup Blue Marlin Championship, (World Cup). Each year on the Fourth Of July top captains, anglers and their teams attempt to catch the largest blue marlin over 500 pounds. One winner takes all. There is no second place in this tournament where anglers from the west coast of Africa to the South Pacific marlin hot spots all compete for top honors and a pile of money. Fishing takes place for 8 hours in the anglers time zone. Last year's winner took home over $343,000. Registration fee is $3000 per team.

Teams can register on line with a credit card at www.bluemarlinworldcup.com. They can also print out the application form and mail it to World Cup, PO Box 4350, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, 33338.

The optional "Big Blue Challenge" is an additional $5000 category for those that wish to enter.

White Marlin Open kicks off August 4 in Ocean City, Maryland
By White Marlin Open

The White Marlin Open, the world's largest billfish tournament, will hold the 35th Annual event August 4-8, 2008 in Ocean City, Maryland. Over 400 boats and 2500 anglers are expected to compete for over $3.2 million in prize money ($3,141,000 purse in 2007). Anglers participating in the White Marlin Open fish for white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, dolphin, wahoo and shark, pick 3 out of 5 days. The registration fee is $1050 per boat with NO LIMIT on the number of anglers allowed. Additional skill levels are offered and range from $50 to $5000. A new Daily Meat Fish category has been added for this year's event.

Islamorada to host IGFA Inshore Championship for eighth consecutive year

The International Game Fish Association is to hold its 2008 Inshore World Championship in the Sportfishing Capital of the World -- the tiny village of Islamorada -- for the eighth straight year Sunday through Wednesday, June 29 through July 2.

What Islamorada lacks in land mass it makes up for with near-shore waters teeming with the world's choicest selection of inshore sport fish: bonefish, tarpon, permit, snook and redfish.

The 12th annual Key Largo Sailfish Challenge pits anglers against sails Friday through Sunday, Jan. 4-6. The event follows a boat tournament format.

The action begins with a 5 p.m. registration Friday at Sundowner's Restaurant, located at mile marker 104 bayside in Key Largo. Cocktails and a kick-off party commence at 6 p.m.

Prizes await the first-, second- and third-place teams.

Fishing begins Saturday, Jan. 5, with lines in the water at 8 a.m. Lines out is to be called at 4 p.m., with a 6 p.m. standings party scheduled at Sundowner's. Sunday's fishing runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

JBM & Associates has announced their 2008 Boat Show season. The 28th Annual Charleston, SC Boat Show will be held January 25-27, 2008 at the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex. The sixth Annual Savannah, GA International Boat Show will be held February 29-March 2, 2008 at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center and in-water on the Savannah River. JBM & Associates has also recently been hired as the new Show Producers for the 61st Annual Jacksonville, FL Boat Show, to be held February 8-10, 2008, at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.

By JBM & Associates

Everglades Angler, an icon in the Southwest Florida fly-fishing industry for 15 years and the authorized Orvis store in Naples, will hold its Second Annual Fly Fishing Expo Saturday October 20 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the store located at 810 12th Avenue South in Naples, and in the nearby field one block west of the store.

The free educational Fly Fishing Expo will include seminars and demonstrations throughout the day for people of all angling levels.Beginning fly fishers and children are encouraged to participate.

Just in time for the anticipated arrival of the Wahoo season, Bimini Bay Resort is proud to sponsor the 2nd annual Bahamas Wahoo Challenge, taking place from November 1-4, 2007. The Bahamas Wahoo Challenge will award nearly $200,000 in cash prizes to lucky participants and those booking before October 15th can save $300 off their entry fee and 10 percent off rooms and marina slips.

By Fla-Keys.com
Mon, Aug 06, 2007
Anglers can target the "big three" game fish of the flats while fishing with celebrities ranging from sports heroes to astronauts in the annual Mercury Southernmost Light-Tackle Anglers Masters (S.L.A.M.) Celebrity Fishing Tournament.

Scheduled Friday through Sunday, Sept. 7-9, the catch-and-release event pits participating anglers against tarpon, permit and bonefish. Releasing all three on the same day is known as a "flats grand slam."

By Caicos Classic Billfish Tournament
Mon, Aug 06, 2007
With a reputation for world-class billfishing, the Turks and Caicos Islands was the scene once again of the annual Caicos Classic billfish tournament recently. Big boats, big expectations, big fish and big excitement combined to produce another spectacular event for both the participants and crowds of spectators that flocked to Providenciales for the IGFA sanctioned competition.

By Venezuelan International Super Slam
Wed, Aug 01, 2007

The prestigious all-release 2007 Venezuelan International Super Slam billfish tournament is set to take place in La Guaira, Venezuela, from October 4th thru the 8th. Last year a total of 336 billfish were released including 21 grand slams aboard a fleet of 25 boats.