Over 35 top anglers registered for fifth annual
Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship Tournament
Pre-qualified in 2004 tournaments for July 10-13 light tackle world championship
DANIA BEACH, Fla.---More than 35 top fly and light tackle anglers have registered to compete in the world class fifth annual Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship Tournament (ICT), July 10-13, in Islamorada, in the Florida Keys.
The anglers gained entry via invitation to the world championship after winning one of 55 International Game Fish Association (IGFA) sanctioned qualifying events during 2004, representing over 2,600 anglers on four continents worldwide. The qualified winners are coming from12 states. Seven of the contestants are women champions.
The Rolex/IGFA ICT features three days of fishing on both the Florida Bay and Atlantic Ocean sides of the Florida Keys. The targeted species for the championship are bonefish, tarpon, snook, redfish and permit in a catch-and-release format.
“The point value of the fish is determined by the species and the angler’s choice of fly-fishing, using artificial lures or live bait,” said Rolex/IGFA tournament coordinator Denise Hartman. “Some may use one approach or all three over the three days.”
The anglers participate in a captain’s draw on the opening evening matching a different guide and angler each day.
“With many different fishing disciplines represented by the qualifying champions, this format levels the on-the-water ‘playing field,’” said tournament director Mike Myatt. “The rotating guide and angler format relieves the ‘home field’ advantage to a degree and lends itself to maximizing not only the angler’s strengths, but also the guide’s."
The Islander Resort is the tournament headquarters, with fishing and daily scorekeeping taking place from the World Wide Sportsman. Both are located near mile marker 82 in the Keys.
The three days of competitive fishing will start Monday and end Wednesday. Lines are in at 7 a.m. and out at 3 p.m. each day. During the scoring each afternoon the contestants and guides will gather for appetizers and *beep* dockside at the World Wide Sportsman Marina provided by Bacardi, Zane Grey and the Islamorada Fish Company.
Rolex timepieces will be awarded to the tournament’s grand champion and grand champion runner-up based on slams, and also to the overall release champion and runner-up release champion based on total points. The divisional champions -- first to third places -- in fly, spin and bait, plus the overall top three guides will also receive trophies and merchandise among the 16 tournament award categories presented.
Jim Bokor, Tavernier, Fla., the 2002 Rolex/IGFA ICT Grand Champion is in the field for the fifth straight year. Like the Masters tournament in professional golf, past Rolex/IGFA ICT champions are invited perpetually, though Bokor also “qualified” by winning the 17th Mercury/Cheeca Redbone. Also returning after winning qualifying tournaments are Robert Collins, Naples, Fla., who was last year’s top overall release angler and Sharon Ellenwood, Tavernier, the runner-up grand champion.
The ICT is one of three world class series events that include the sixth annual Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship Tournament which was held in May in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. In that tournament over 70 winning teams of anglers representing tournaments in 31 countries competed releasing a record 517 billfish (striped marlin and sailfish) around the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula. Over 100 qualifying tournaments were held worldwide in 2004. A tournament for youngsters is also among the trio in the third annual Mercury Outboards/IGFA Junior Angler Championship in Key West, Fla., July 17-19.
Rolex Watch U.S.A., respected world wide for producing the finest timepieces, became the title sponsor and exclusive timepiece of the ICT in 2000. Rolex is joined this year by platinum sponsors Chevrolet, Mercury Outboards and Hell’s Bay Boats. Other sponsors include Bacardi, Costa Del Mar, G. Loomis, Hook and Tackle, Image Graphics 2000, Islamorada Fish Co., Island Glass, Islander Resort, James Harris Fine Arts, Hewlett Photography, KD & G Sea Life Masterpieces, King Sailfish Mounts, Rapala, Redbone Gallery, Robert James Sales, Inc., Shimano, Stiffy Push Poles, 3M Scientific Anglers and World Wide Sportsman.
James Harris of Delray Beach, Fla., is the official artist of the ICT for the fifth straight year.
For further information, contact Denise Hartman at the International Game Fish Association, 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, Florida 33004 Email: [email protected], Phone (954) 927-2628 Fax (954) 924-4299.
Founded in 1939, the IGFA is a not for profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping. IGFA members are located in over 125 countries and territories.
The IGFA welcomes visitors to its 60,000-sq.ft .interactive Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum headquartered in Dania Beach, Fla. The IGFA web site can be found at http://www.igfa.org.
###
Pete Johnson
Johnson Communications
(480) 951-3654
e-mail: [email protected]
