Keys Summer Fishing Screamin’ Reels Tournament

 May 17-19, 2024 Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing’s “Learning on the Water,” plus the Screamin’ Reels Tournament! Islamorada, FL Learn on the boats and Win prizes! Fish offshore or inshore from charter boats or on your own.

Book early! Best to sign up several months in advance to secure a fishing slot. See below for last minute options.

Early Registration Only $95 early Entry for adults, $55 for teens! $119 regular registration. Charter boat fishing per person additional, rates below. Registration is per angler.

Register HERE!

Screamin’ Reels is a fun, non-intimidating tournament with two days of fishing, kickoff is on Friday evening. Full Day Fishing on Saturday, 3/4 day fishing on Sunday. Grab a spot on the charter boats we are holding or your own boat! You can sign up for only one day fishing if you wish. Charter boats supply rods, reels, no fishing license needed.  Perfect for beginning anglers!

Any Questions email us and you need to make your move ASAP as once the last slots are filled we close charter reservations. For credit cards once you hit the purple button to register look for “Pay as Guest” at bottom, click that to use your credit card. You don’t need a Paypal Account to do this.

Add to your calendar

Top prizes include Penn rod/reel combos! Art Prints/some valued up to $200 each, and more! Plus a prize for Top Private Boat (minimum 2 boats for the prize)

For full day seminar with 1-2 days of fishing Oct. 18-20, 2024 with a day of learning and hands-on practice with instructors, two parties and two optional days of fishing with prizes, too. For that, Info is HERE.

If you have a hotel room and want a roommate  Email us.  We will put it on the website here.

FISHING REPORT: Mahi have been coming in earlier. Also king mackerel and tuna. Snook, redfish, trout inshore. We can’t guarantee fish, could be hot fishing one day, not the next but there are always fish caught. Can’t catch ’em if you’re not out there!

A weekend of learning and a non intimidating fun competition! Kickoff is Friday 6:30 – 8:30 pm at Tavernier Elks. The Tournament and fishing is on Saturday-Sunday with prize awards presented shortly after the boats return to Whale Harbor on Sunday. A few prizes may be presented for daily awards.

If you fish from the charter boats we book you don’t need any equipment and can learn fishing as you do it on the boat. Don’t worry, you do not need to be an experienced angler to participate as many of the awards are drawings from those who caught fish. No pressure! There are no instructors from LLGF on the boats but you can learn from the captain and mate.

Each tournament participant gets about $20 in free gifts, a face protector, coozie, etc.
Tavernier Elks Address for Kickoff Party on Friday is 92600 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier, FL 33070, on the bay side.

Saturday and Sunday Fishing from Whale Harbor, 83413 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33006 mm 83.5 Oceanside. Some boats depart from other locations, we will notify you in advance.

 

Agenda:

Kickoff Friday 6:30-8 pm Tavernier Elks to discuss rules, fishing protocol, times and meet the other ladies.

Saturday: Full Day Fishing 7 am to 3 pm Whale Harbor Docks. Arrive a half hour (15 minutes at the latest) in advance as the charter boats leave promptly at 7 am. Some may leave at 6:30 am you will be advised.

Sunday: Option to fish for 3/4 day on charter boats, followed by informal awards at the dock at 1:30 approx. . Fishing time Approx. 7 am – 1 pm. Some may leave at 6:30 am you will be advised.

For all charter departure times you will be informed individually if captains may want to leave earlier or from a different location. Inshore boats usually leave from another place, some from Key Largo.

Species include legal inshore and offshore fish with a few exclusions, see rules.

Get your reels screamin’ and join us!

Entry Info:

Registration includes Kickoff Party and a chance to win tournament prizes. Most people win something! If signing up for charter boats you pay at the same time you register,  per person. Or fish on your own boat.

Click HERE for our reservation/cancellation policy. Any changes affect the others as we book charter boats to meet their capacities and per-boat costs. There is an optional $45 No Worries policy that covers your registration and fishing but you must cancel within 30 days of the event at the latest.

Catch em up – Fishing info!

Fishing Rates (includes guide, boat, fishing license and equipment) If you can only fish one day there will be some prizes but you need to fish both days to win the First Place prize.  If you fish offshore or party boat one day and inshore or offshore on Sunday that’s fine! Lots of choices! Fishing times include boat time to get to the fishing areas and back. YOU CAN FISH FROM YOUR OWN BOAT, CLICK OWN BOAT ON REGISTRATION FORM. First two  people from Own Boat at regular registration rate, additional persons (OWN BOAT ONLY) register for Teen Rates @$55 and notate they are on your boat.  Please put your boat name and whether inshore or offshore in the notes section.

CHARTER FISHING RATES: SIGN UP VERY EARLY – MONTHS IN ADVANCE, FISHING RATES MAY INCREASE WITHIN A MONTH OF THE EVENT IF THERE ARE ANY SLOTS STILL AVAILABLE, REVISED RATES WILL BE ON THIS WEBSITE. THESE BOATS START GETTING BOOKED IN JANUARY AND WILL TAKE ANOTHER CHARTER IF WE DON’T HAVE THEM FILLED. LIMITED SUPPLY OF CHARTER BOATS! DUE TO FUEL INCREASES WE WILL CONTACT YOU IF THERE IS A FUEL SURCHARGE, DON’T WORRY IT WON’T BE MUCH PER PERSON

Rates are per person. Coming alone? Don’t worry, no need to fill the boat, we do it for you! No equipment is necessary. Fishing times include boat time to the fishing grounds and back and perhaps a stop to catch fresh bait.

SATURDAY FULL DAY CHARTER RATES PER PERSON:

$370 Offshore Sportfishing Boat (Full day approx. 7 am – 3:00), gratuity not incl., 6 persons/per boat) Fish for sailfish, kingfish, wahoo, dolphin and more! You may troll offshore, catch bait, go bottom fishing and more! It is up to the captain and what is biting and where. With a full day you have more time to go further to target fish and may go out 17 miles or more to where the fish are. Some boats may leave at 6:30 am you will be advised.

$370 Backcountry/Flats Fishing (Full day approx. 7 am – 3:00), gratuity and not incl., BASED ON 3-4 persons/per boat). Only 8 slots available/2 boats. Fish for snook, tarpon, trout, redfish, bonefish and more. With this choice you are busy casting and interacting versus sitting while trolling on a sportfishing boat. This is a good choice if you tend to get seasick. These boats may leave from a different location and you drive in your winning fish. If all the boats that take 3-4 are booked and you are on a boat that only takes 2 you will be advised of upgrade fees.

Again, departure return times may vary slightly depending on the captain’s preference. Some captains may want to leave from a different location you will be notified.

OPTIONAL SATURDAY – Drift/Party Boat

Group/Party Boat: Half Day Reserve on your own for Saturday. Captain Michael is 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. A half day in the am is approx. $100 plus tax. Click HERE for Captain Michael. Be at weigh in at Whale Harbor at 3 pm Sat. with your score sheet.

SUNDAY 3/4 Day CHARTER RATES PER PERSON (Please note 3/4 day is not much less than full day as captains usually can’t take a second charter when fishing 3/4 day.

$340 Offshore Sportfishing Boat (3/4 day approx. 7 am – 1:00), gratuity not incl., 6 persons/per boat) Fish for sailfish, kingfish, wahoo, dolphin and more! You may troll offshore, catch bait, go bottom fishing and more! It is up to the captain and what is biting and where. Some boats may leave at 6:30 am you will be advised.

$355 Backcountry/Flats Fishing (3/4 day approx. 7 am – 1:00), gratuity and not incl., BASED ON 3-4 persons/per boat). Only 8 slots available/2 boats however we will work on more boats once full. Fish for snook, tarpon, trout, redfish, bonefish and more. This is a good choice if you tend to get seasick. These boats may leave from a different location and you drive in your winning fish. If all the boats that take 3-4 are booked and you are on a boat that only takes 2 you will be advised of upgrade fees.

Party boat fishing not available on Sunday, it comes back too late for awards. You can still do this on your own but you will miss the awards.

 

Overnight Accommodations

THIS WILL BE A VERY BUSY WEEKEND IN THE KEYS SO DON’T WAIT VERY LONG TO BOOK YOUR OVERNIGHT ROOM!

MM 82.2 Bayside – Sunset Inn, Islamorada. They are holding a LIMITED block of rooms THAT SELLS OUT EARLY, call them, don’t book online, and reference Ladies Let’s Go Fishing. Our Host Hotel near Mangrove Mikes Restaurant. Not on the water but easy on your budget. Pool. Newly renovated. Limited availability! Rooms start at $220/night for May event plus tax.

Call (305) 664-3454. Website is https://sunsetinnkeys.com/

 

Lines IN/OUT (Charter departure times will be emailed before the event)

Saturday: Leave anytime in safe light, Lines can be in the water not before 7 am. Lines out is 2:45 pm.

Sunday: Leave anytime in safe light, Lines can be in the water not before 7 am. Lines out is 12:45 pm.

Return times:

Saturday 3 pm: Charter boats at Whale Harbor return by 3 pm to be eligible and for photos of your fish. 3:30 pm Those fishing on their own boat who are driving in their fish, to allow for drive time.

Sunday 1 pm: Charter boats at Whale Harbor return by 1 pm to be eligible and for photos of your fish. 1:30 pm Those fishing on their own boat who are driving in their fish, to allow for drive time.

No food/beverage served by us during weigh in, you can order from Wahoos at Whale Harbor.

Species/Weigh in:

Offshore Division (based on weight and/or releases):

• Weigh in: All legal offshore fish including pelagic and bottom fish, except for these exclusions for weigh in: No sharks, sailfish, marlin, tarpon, eels, amberjacks or stingrays should be brought back to the dock to be weighed. Swordfish are permitted to be weighed. Amberjacks do not count for heaviest fish but do count for a catch ticket. We will weigh the top 2-3 fish.
• Offshore Release: Billfish only, marlin, sailfish. Mate must touch the leader.
• In the name of conservation, please weigh only fish that will be consumed or used for bait, for example, bonito to be used for strips.

Inshore Division (based on length to tip of tail and/or releases):

• Inshore awards – all legal inshore fish, based on measurement head to the pinched tail. Captain must measure the top two fish per boat, no need to bring to weigh in. Snook or redfish that are released can be measured prior to release and we need a photo of angler holding the fish.
• Inshore Release: Tarpon and/or bonefish only. Snook and redfish are in the overall awards see above.
• No sharks, tarpon, eels or stingrays should be brought back to the dock to be weighed.

Both Divisions: Protected species should not be brought to the dock (sharks, stingrays, sailfish, tarpon, etc.).

Exemptions: Amberjack and barracuda don’t qualify for prizes.

• Fish releases, for ticket purposes only, may include billfish, shark, tarpon, barracuda, bonito, catfish, (everything except small bait fish).
• Do not take sailfish, marlin or tarpon onto the boat for a release photo.
• Catch Ticket Drawing – one catch ticket per person no matter how many fish you caught or released, whether inshore or offshore. You do not have to weigh a fish to get a ticket for the Wild Card Drawings.

 Simple Rules:

• Drawing: Catch or release a fish to be eligible for prize drawing. Record it on your score sheet. Hard luck for those who didn’t catch. For the drawings, each person (besides those who already got top prizes) gets 1 ticket no matter how many fish they caught or released. It is permitted to drive the fish to Whale Harbor.
• In the name of education, it is allowed for the captain or mate to assist with hookup but a single angler must fight the fish and bring it to the boat. Pulled hooks do not count. Released fish must be under control at the moment of release.

• Anglers may fish from our charter-supplied boats or on their own boats.
• This is an Honor-Based Tournament intended for novice anglers, women and teens. If a woman wants to register her male counterpart that’s ok!
• Captains to verify all catches or releases on the Score Form supplied.

Angler Prizes, presented Sunday approx 1:45- 2pm upon return of boats including a Penn rod/reel combos for top prizes, art prints valued up to $200 ea., shirts and more. – Below is based on participation and fish presented, will advise on site:

• Heaviest Offshore Fish Overall First Place
• Offshore Fish 2nd Place
• Longest Inshore Fish Overall First Place
• Inshore Fish 2nd Place
• Top Private Boat (minimum of 2 boats entered for this)
• Offshore Release – Highest number of billfish releases or drawing in case of a tie
• Inshore Release – Highest number of tarpon or bonefish releases or drawing in case of a tie
• Junior Angler Offshore /Inshore TBD depending on who is on what
• Wild Card Drawings from all who caught or released fish
• Numbers of prizes (rods, art prints, shirts, etc) based on number of entries, there will be some nice prizes!
• In case of a tie, winner’s name will be drawn.
• Party boat is considered offshore

In case of the unexpected, Tournament Committee Decision is Final.