2010 Key West Marlin Tournament

KEY WEST, Florida Keys - A marlin tournament in the spirit of legendary angler Ernest Hemingway, who fished Key West waters for more than a decade, is to run Wednesday through Saturday, July 21-24, with a legendary prize at stake.

Anglers in the Drambuie Key West Marlin Tournament are to compete for a guaranteed cash purse of more than $50,000. The tournament takes place in conjunction with Key West's Hemingway Days celebration, held each July to honor the legacy of the literary giant.

Teams can win substantial cash prizes for accumulating the most points for blue marlin, white marlin and spearfish. The first-place team earns $25,000, while second- and third-place prizes are $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. Teams also can enter one fun fish (dolphin, tuna, wahoo or released sailfish) per boat per day to add to their point total.

All marlin must be tagged and released unless their weight exceeds 600 pounds.

Boats entered in the marlin division can pay an additional fee to compete for $10,000 cash to be awarded in the fun fish division. Cash prizes are to be presented for the three heaviest dolphin, three heaviest tuna (yellowfin, blackfin and skipjack) and three heaviest wahoo.

Final registration is set for 4-6 p.m. Wednesday at the Conch Republic Seafood Company, 631 Greene St. A captains meeting is to begin at 6 p.m. with a tournament auction and raffle to follow.

Lines are to be in the water from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 22 and 23, and from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 24. Weigh-ins are scheduled for 4-6:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 3-5 p.m. Saturday at the Conch Republic Seafood docks.

Thursday's weigh-in is to be followed by a 6:30 p.m. cocktail party and island pig roast at the Doubletree Grand Key Resort, 3990 S. Roosevelt Blvd.

Following Friday's weigh-in, anglers can enjoy 6:30 p.m. dockside cocktails and a fish fry at Conch Republic Seafood Co., 631 Greene St.

The tournament awards banquet is scheduled for Saturday, July 24,at the Westin Key West Resort and Marina, 245 Front Street. Cocktails and a silent auction are to begin at 6:30 p.m., with dinner and awards presentations starting at 7:30 p.m.

Tournament entry fees are $1,500 per boat before June 15 and $1,800 per boat after that date for two anglers to compete in the marlin division and attend tournament social events. Marlin division competitors can qualify for cash prizes in the fun fish division for an extra $300 entry fee per boat.

There is no maximum number of anglers per boat, and additional anglers over two can register for $200 apiece, which includes social privileges. Additional social tickets can be purchased for $150 each.

For more information and registration, call (305) 292-2710 or e-mail info@KeyWestMarlin.com. If you have any inquires please contact Tim Greene at Tim@keywestmarlin.com.