Atlanta/Key West Duo Wins Sugarloaf Showdown in Lower Florida Keys

SUGARLOAF KEY, Florida Keys — Four barracuda and one bonefish, all released while fly-fishing, earned first-place honors for Captain John Benvenuto of Key West, Florida, and angler Scott Christian of Atlanta, Georgia, at the recent Sugarloaf Showdown.

The duo amassed 1,500 points to win the tournament that ended Nov. 4 in the Lower Florida Keys. As well as their overall victory, Benvenuto and Christian were named the high-point barracuda team.

“It was fairly windy, which makes flats fishing and especially fly-fishing very challenging,” said Benvenuto, who estimated he and Christian have been fishing together for about five years. “We were sight fishing, so I tried to line up the boat in the way that my angler was able to best cast to the fish in relation to the wind and the angle of the sun.”

The second-place team consisted of Captain Tim Carlile of Sugarloaf Key and angler Peter Vandergrift of Bozeman, Montana. They released three barracuda and three bonefish on spin and two bonefish on fly during the tournament’s two fishing days, earning 1,200 points. In addition, they were named the high-point bonefish team.

The third-place award went to the team of Kat Linville and Nathaniel Linville, both of Key West, and Doug Kilpatrick of Sugarloaf Key. The trio released two barracuda on fly, two on spin and one bonefish on fly for a total of 1,100 points.

The tournament drew 60 participants fishing on 26 boats. Presented by the Lower Keys Guides Association, it was a fundraiser for the Florida Keys Guides Trust Foundation, which provides funds to assist fishing guides who are recovering from an illness or injury.

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