Sailfish City - Stuart Florida Community Site

Temperatures in Florida are starting to rise and tournament season is heating up.  April is going to host some of the hottest tournaments of the year!  Some of these are right around the corner, don’t waste any more time!  Sign up today!

April 3-6, 2008 - Miami Beach
Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament
The Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament is the Premier Blue Water Event of the Year raising money for Marine Conservation!
Contact Judy Layne, fish@miamibillfish.com, 305-598-2525

April 11-13, 2008 - New Smyrna Beach
Offshore Shootout
1 day Shootout!  Wahoo, Dolphin, Kingfish via Ponce De Leon Inlet.  $175.00 per boat.  All events held at the Brannon Center and Riverside Park in New Smyrna Beach.  Captain’s meeting on April 11th.  April 12th will be the sole fishing day.  April 13th is the family fish fry and award ceremony.
Contact Desiree Harbster, sfandginc@yahoo.com, 386-576-3953

April 12, 2008 - Palatka
OGS Tournament Trail 2008
Team Tournament fishing for black bass on the upper St. John’s River.  Safe light until 3:00 PM.  Launch site: Rodeheavers Boys Ranch just South of Palatka on SR-19.
Contact Mike Oglesbee, Mike@ogspromotions.com, 386-329-9877

April 15-19, 2008 - Key West
World Sailfish Championship
The sixth annual World Sailfish Championship is returning to beautiful Key West!  The World Sailfish Championship has been described as the super bowl of fishing tournaments.  Over the years, many of the top teams from around the world have come to compete for the $100,000 guaranteed first-place cash prize.  Come meet, compete and try to defeat the best of the best.
Contact Laura L Emmole, lemmole@worldsailfish.com, 727-631-0072

April 24-27, 2008 - Miami Beach
The Captain’s Cup
The televised fishing tournament where Captains battle for the Captain of the US title, cash, medals, trophies and bragging rights has announced the 2008 event schedule starting April 24-27, 2008 at the Miami Beach Marina.
Contact William Alonso, uscaptaincup@uscaptaincup.com

April 26, 2008 - Palatka
NEFAR Charity Bass Tournament
Northeast Florida Association of Realtors® Charity Black Bass Fishing Tournament to Benefit Hospice.  $2,500 first place, entry fee is $110 per boat.  Palatka City Ramp, safe light until 3:00 PM.  Sorry, no canoes or air boats.
Contact Mike Oglesbee, Mike@ogspromotions.com, 386-329-9877

April 26, 2008 - Steinhatchee
4th Annual Fishing for Kids Saltwater Trout Tournament
This is an open tournament benefiting Shands Children’s Hospitals.  Registration is $100 per boat and there is a guaranteed payout of $2,500.  The tournament headquarters will be located at Gulfstream Marina.

April 30 - May 4, 2008 - Islamorada
Get the Net Big Game Fishing Tournament
12th Annual “Get the Net” Big Game Fishing Tournament at Islander Resort in Islamorada, Florida Keys.  Over $20,000* in cash and prizes, $10,000* for bonus dolphin. 
Contact Dennis Peters, getthenetcharter@bignet.net, 586-945-FISH

Saint Lucie County marine resource coordinate Jim Oppenborn tried to secure a 563 foot decommissioned Navy destroyer for the counties planned artificial reef, but the price tag of $3 million dollars was just to high.  Instead, they will be sinking a 48.8 foot retired tug boat, the Lee, donated by a Martin County marine transport company.

 The Lee is being sank roughly 12 nautical miles SouthEast of the Fort Pierce inlet in about 90 feet of water.  Local volunteer divers are preparing the boat to become an artificial reef by cleaning it out and sealing it up.  The artificial reef is designated to be a dive attraction as well as a fish attraction.  This area is already attracts visitors from around the world to experience the great sportfishing in our waters, this project and others like it are designed to attract divers as well.  The far offshore location will provide for better visibility than if the reef were created closer to the often murkier waters near the shore, which will present more dive oppurtunities for visitors.

“We’re hoping this will build up more of a dive industry here in the county,” Oppenborn said. “Just like we attract fisherman and anglers from all over the state and country, we’d like to get divers (too).”

Oppenborn and his team of local dive volunteers and anglers planned to clean the ship Friday, removing oil, some bunks and cabinets along with marine batteries to be recycled. Fort Pierce based McCulley Marine Services, which has been the county’s contractor to sink other reefs, donated oil soak pads to clean the bilges.

Once it’s sunk, the ship is expected to draw a plethora of fish and people alike.

“This one has toilets so you could sit down there on the toilet had have someone take a picture,” Oppenborn joked. “This one has a good profile so it will attract a lot of fish.”

See the locations of sunken attractions and learn more information about St. Lucie County’s at www.stlucieco.gov/public_works/reefs.htm