Redbone S.L.A.M. Results - Sept 2006

KEY WEST – The Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series kicked off this weekend in Key West. The weekend events consisted of a one day tournament for fly fishing only called the Super Fly held on Friday and the two day Mercury S.L.A.M. tournament.
September has been good to us so far. Good Key West weather and good fishing, particularly for the grand slam trio of tarpon, bonefish and permit. The goal for anglers this weekend was to catch a slam to rack up the most points.
Fourteen boats participated in the Super Fly event on Friday. Tournament Director Gary Ellis explained that this tournament was devised to give the fly fishing anglers another chance to fish one additional day that was for fly anglers only. “It gives the guides another paid day of fishing,” Ellis said as he read off the rules for the tournament.
The anglers and guides both do their part to help fight Cystic Fibrosis. The Redbone is dedicated to raising money for this disease. Each guide donates one day of fishing for the cause, and the majority of the angler entry fees also go to charity.
The tournament is unique because the flies used must all be the same pattern but can be tied in different sizes for each of the three species.
There were no grand slams caught in the Super Fly but Mo Smith from Cordova, TN caught 6 bonefish and 2 tarpon to win the event. Smith was fishing with Captain Mark Krowka from Islamorada. The runner up award went to Nicolas Pierce from Wilmington, NC who was guided by Captain Justin Rea.
The Mercury S.L.A.M. (Southernmost Light Tackle Angler Masters) was a complete success attracting celebrity anglers and seasoned Redbone participants. Celebrities included baseball hall of fame great Wade Boggs, astronaut Bruce Melnick, Carmel Cafiero of Fox 7 News, retired NFL players Manny Fernandez and Mark Cooper, Bill Hurst and Joey Cornblit.
There were 35 boats total that fished the event and the total of released fish was 91. This was quite an increase from the 2005 event where 41 fish were released.
Several guides said the fishing was very good for all three species. And although some of the fish released did not meet the 18- inch minimum measurement for the tournament, the anglers seemed overjoyed to be actively fishing for the better part of each tournament day.
Cal Collier, Jr. of Atlanta, GA had his own tactics for racking up points in the fly division. Collier spent part of day two of the tournament wading for bonefish. He was successful in landing one bonefish on fly, while the second one surged as he was landing it and broke off. Collier also released a permit that day. Collier and is father, Cal Collier, Sr. were fishing with Captain Bryan Yates of Key West.
The final results for the S.L.A.M. left Troy Pruett of Naples with the title of Grand Champion Angler. Pruett released 9 tarpon, 2 bonefish and 2 permit with the help of his guide Captain Rich Tudor.
Bill Hurst, former Florida Marlins pitcher, was awarded the Celebrity Grand Champion award. Hurst was fishing with Captain Andy Thompson.
The Grand Champion Lady Angler award went to Linda Denkert of Islamorada. She was guided by her husband, Captain Dave Denkert.
Team Grand Champions were Jim Boker and Jim Hoefert both of Tavernier, guided by Captain Tim Hoover.
The Fly Division Champion was awarded to Mike Allen who was fishing with Captain Will Benson.
It is obvious by the number of fish caught in this tournament that the flats are alive in the Lower Keys. Anglers and their guides traveled from Marathon to the Marquesas in search of victory.
Offshore fishing has been slow this week. There are still some smaller mahi-mahi around in close and reportedly there are some larger mahi out past the wall.
Sportfishing charters and light tackle boats are fishing deep wrecks for mutton snapper, grouper, amberjack and yellowtail. Reportedly the patch reefs at Western Dry Rocks and further west of Sand Key have been good for yellowtail snapper. The bite seems to be good early in the day and the water has been clear. Be prepared to move around in search of cloudy water to help the bite. All types of bait are working including squid, fresh ballyhoo, silverside minnows or glass minnows, and strips of bonito.