Prestigious tournament returns to Islamorada in the Florida Keys for sixth straight year
By Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications
DANIA BEACH, Fla., U.S.A. -- For the sixth straight year the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) will be bringing the world-class Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship Tournament to the Florida Keys.
The prestigious tournament will be held July 9 – 12, 2006, in Islamorada.
The Inshore Championship Tournament (ICT) invites the winners of over 58 qualifying events held on four continents and sanctioned by the IGFA during 2005. The number of qualifying tournaments has grown to include over 2,800 competitive anglers from eight countries and 12 states in the U.S.
The ICT is the second in a series of world wide competitive fishing events that includes the seventh annual Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship Tournament to be held in May 2006.
“The Rolex/IGFA ICT continues to attract some of the finest men and women, fly and light tackle anglers to gather and compete in one of the highest rated fishing regions in the world paired with top rated guides,” said Denise Hartman, the Rolex/IGFA tournament coordinator. “It brings well over 150 anglers, guides, spouses, tournament officials and sponsors together for four days to the Florida Keys.”
Title sponsor Rolex U.S.A., respected world wide for producing the finest watches and other timepieces, became the title sponsor and exclusive timepiece of the ICT in 2000. Rolex is joined again in 2006 by platinum sponsors Chevrolet and Mercury Marine.
The ICT features three days of fishing with a captain’s draw, matching a different guide and angler each day. Bonefish, tarpon, snook, redfish and permit are targeted in this 100% catch and release format. The point value of the fish is determined by species and the angler’s preference choice of fly fishing, artificial lure or bait casting. With many different fishing disciplines represented by the qualifying champions, the format levels the “playing field” and lends itself to maximizing not only the angler’s strengths, but also the guide’s. The overall top three guides also receive trophies and merchandise among the 16 tournament award categories presented.
Tournament directors worldwide who are involved in offshore, inshore, light tackle and fly fishing tournaments are invited to contact Ms. Hartman at the IGFA for more information on the Rolex/IGFA championship series. Directors of junior angler tournaments are also encouraged to contact IGFA regarding the Mercury/IGFA Junior Angler World Championship. For up-to-date news on the qualifying tournaments worldwide, visit the IGFA’s website at www.igfa.org and look under the “fishing” heading for the “tournaments” subheading.
The International Game Fish Association is a not-for-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping. It was founded in 1939 and has members in over 125 countries. The association welcomes visitors to their 60,000 square foot IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach, Florida.
For further information, contact Ms. Hartman at the IGFA, 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, Florida 33004; (954) 927-2628; Fax (954) 924-4299; Email: [email protected].
###
