Anglers from Across the Country Vie for “The Mayor’s Cup”
Miami, Florida January 5, 2004 – The Mayor’s Cup Billfish Tournament has quickly garnered the support from local industry and anglers, but this inaugural event is also getting attention from outside South Florida. The majority of the anglers participating in this event are coming from Miami-Dade, Broward, and the Keys, but there are also teams from Fort Myers, Naples, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, and even New Jersey. “The response has been overwhelming,” states Tony Albelo, tournament director. He admits that he hopes a South Florida team wins The Cup. “If a team from New Jersey or North Carolina wins The Cup, which is hosted by The City of Miami, it could be very embarrassing. It’s never good when a visiting team beats you at home… in any sport.” The Cup has a great chance at staying home due to some of the top captains participating in the professional division such as Ray Rosher, John Dudas, Jimbo Thomas, Dean Panos, and Mark Houghtailing just to name a few. But the average weekend angler will not compete directly against these captains.
The Mayor’s Cup has two distinct fields: one for professional teams and one for amateurs. The prizes and prize money is the same regardless of a team’s designation. “This will open the tournament to a whole new segment of tournament anglers,” stated Mr. Albelo. The tournament has employed many new ideas which will appeal to the amateur ranks while luring the professional teams with high cash prizes. The tournament is slated for January 22nd through January 25th, 2004. The activities include an all-release billfish tournament with over $50,000 in cash and prizes. The Mayor’s Cup will not only cater to the fishing community, but there will be ancillary events such as the free series of seminars that will attract the casual spectator as well as non-competing anglers. When each team registers, they designate which city and mayor their team represents. The actual “Cup” is a crystal perpetual trophy that travels from city hall to city hall each year depending on which mayor’s team finishes atop the leader board. The event is also part of the prestigious ROLEX/I.G.F.A. Championship Series which invites the winner to fish the Championship in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
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For more info see www.MayorsCupTournament.com
