February 2020

The Sailfish Challenge is leg two of a 3-leg sailfish tournament series called Quest for the Crest which attracts elite billfishing teams from all over the globe to South Florida. A $2 million purse in the midst of peak sailfishing season provides for a highly competitive layout, and teams go all-in to become deemed the #1 sailfishing team in the world.

February 19-23, the Sailfish Challenge will be hosted from three checkpoints- Government Cut in Miami, Hillsborough Inlet in Pompano Beach, and Palm Beach Inlet in Palm Beach.

The tournament also boasts a unique ‘Coin Challenge’ competition that randomly assigns teams in groups by color to see who can release the most sailfish in the tournament!

This year, the kickoff party will be at IGFA

Seakeeper has officially announced their smallest unit to date, the Seakeeper 1. Designed to eliminate boat roll in boats 23 to 30 feet and up to 13,000 pounds, this compact stabilizer weighs 350 pounds and will be available for yacht tenders and small boats as early as June 2020.

New to the design is a flush-mount installation housing, and power draws are surprisingly low at just 55 amps running on only 12v DC power.

Spool-up time is significantly less than its larger predecessors, taking only 15 minutes from startup to fully functioning, and the control unit is now located directly on the device with capability of connectivity to Garmin, Simrad, and Raymarine MFDs.

We look forward to many installations of Seakeeper 1 in center

Photo Courtesy of Le Mieux Charters.

Swordfishing has increased in popularity ten-fold in the past couple of years, mainly because of the recent development of daytime swordfishing (it used to primarily be done at night) and accessibility of electric reels. If you love fishing, I'm sure a swordfish is on your bucket list. The good news is, Palm Beach County residents and visitors alike have plenty access to fishing charters. Whether swordfishing is something to cross off of your bucketlist, or you want to learn how to rig and do it yourself, below is a list of friendly local captains who can help your dreams come true.

Lemieux Fishing Charters

• Captain Chris Lemieux
• Address: 7848 S Federal Highway, Hypoluxo
• Phone: 561.767.6211

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Photo Courtesy of Sportfish Gallery.

Congratulations to “Ma Sheila” fishing team on their tournament win of the premier IGFA Light Tackle Invitational, and to team member Jeff Wright also won top angler!

IGFA’s newest exclusive two-day tournament, known for its maximum line class of 12 pounds and strict adherence to IGFA Angling Rules, is sure to be a local favorite for years to come. Hosted at Sailfish Marina on Singer Island, Florida, the IGFA Light Tackle Invitational prides itself in being a genuine “angler’s tournament”- a platform for light tackle anglers from around the globe to showcase their skills and sportsmanship.

All proceeds from the IGFA Light Tackle Invitational will benefit the IGFA Great Marlin Race, the world’s most extensive

This exclusive two-day tournament will take place during peak sailfish season in South Florida. With a maximum line class of 12-pound and strict adherence to IGFA Angling Rules, the IGFA Light Tackle Invitational is a genuine “angler’s tournament,” and a platform for light tackle anglers from around the world to showcase their skills and sportsmanship. Species targeted/eligible for catch and release are blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, and spearfish. Species targeted/eligible for weigh-in are dolphin, blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo.

Schedule

Thursday, February 6, 2020:
Captains Meeting & Kick Off Party (Casual Attire)

Captain’s Meeting
5 PM

Team Registration & Welcome Cocktails
6 PM

Tournament Welcome Dinner
7 PM