For Immediate Release
World’s best sailfish teams face off in first event of the season
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – The weather is getting cooler and the waves are getting choppier, which can only mean one thing: The Sailfish Pro Series is about to begin.
The sailfish tournament season officially kicks off Nov. 14-16 at Miami Beach Marina with the first of four Sailfish Pro Series events, the Sailfish Cup. The tournament will feature 43 boats from all over South Florida, pitting some of the top sailfish captains in the world against one another as the fight for the championship begins.
The tournament begins with registration at the South Beach Marriott on Monday, Nov. 14, followed by the Davis Yachts Kickoff Party on the hotel terrace. Rods begin to get bent Tuesday with lines in at 8 a.m. After the first day of fishing, anglers will enjoy themselves at the Embraer Executive Jets Cocktail Party at Smith & Wollensky.
The Sailfish Cup champion will be determined during Day Two on Wednesday when anglers will fish from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The three-day tournament will conclude with the Casa Vieja Awards Banquet at Jungle Island Wednesday night at 6 p.m. The banquet will be hosted by NASCAR President Mike Helton and include a live and silent auction which will benefit the The NASCAR Foundation.
The Sailfish Cup marks the traditional beginning to the sailfish season in South Florida. Captains and their crews have been practicing for several weeks, counting the cold fronts as they push the larger schools more and more south, down the Florida coastline.
“The fish are always here for this tournament,” said Capt. Nick Carullo, who guided High Standards to a second-place finish in the Cup last year. “We’ve been getting three to seven shots a day at them lately, but it usually takes anywhere from 18 to 22 fish to win this tournament. So we’re expecting them to pick up soon.”
The Sailfish Pro Series is a series of quality tournaments designed to showcase professional sailfishing. The Sailfish Pro Series begins with the first of four events Nov. 14-16 when the Sailfish Cup takes place in Miami Beach. The next event is the Sailfish Open in West Palm Beach, Feb. 1-3 and then the World Sailfish Championships in Key West, April 17-21. The Sailfish Pro Series Finale in Miami Beach will take place for the top ranking teams after completing the season.
For more information visit www.sailfishcup.com.