Teams to Vie for Over $35,000 in 25th Lower Keys Dolphin Tournament

BIG PINE, Florida Keys — Dolphin fish are the target and teams can vie for more than $35,000 in cash and prizes during the 25th annual Big Pine & Lower Keys Dolphin Tournament. Presented by the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce, the tournament is scheduled Friday through Sunday, June 1-3.

Tournament events are to be headquartered at Kiki’s Sandbar, located at 183 Barry Ave. on Little Torch Key.

The team that catches the tournament’s largest dolphin fish can take home $7,500 and a trophy — with an added premium of $20,000 if the winning dolphin weighs over 50 pounds.

Cash and trophies also await the second- and third-place teams and the top lady angler. Prize money is based on a registered field of 30 boats.

Awards in the youth division, for anglers age 15 and under, include prizes and trophies through third place.

The tournament is set to kick off at 5 p.m. Friday, June 1, with a registration party featuring hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar at Kiki’s Sandbar. A mandatory captains meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Angling action commences at 7 a.m. the next two days.

Saturday’s weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. and end at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday’s fishing is to conclude with a weigh-in set for 3-5 p.m. A 4-6 p.m. social gathering and 6 p.m.dinner and awards ceremony round out the day’s events.

Tournament entry fees are $450 per boat if received by May 25 and $500 per boat thereafter, covering up to six anglers per boat. The fee also includes four passes for Sunday’s awards dinner. Additional social passes for the awards dinner are available for $20 per person.

Proceeds from the angling challenge benefit the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce.

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