Florida Keys Gold Cup Series Concludes with Cheeca Presidential Sailfish Tournament

ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — The final leg of the three-event Florida Keys Gold Cup Championship Series, the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament, is scheduled Friday through Sunday, Jan. 20-22, 2023, in Islamorada.

Kickoff for “The Presidential” is set for Friday, Jan. 20, at Cheeca Lodge, mile marker 82 oceanside, and includes a welcome cocktail party, angler registration, rules meeting and beach banquet.

Saturday and Sunday anglers can test their light-tackle skills with 20-pound or less line to wrestle the high-flying acrobatic sailfish, known for tail-walking the waves. Only non-offset circle hooks can be used.

Fishing is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Sunday evening, trophies are to be awarded to the tournament’s top anglers including the Florida Keys Gold Cup grand champion, as well as Presidential tournament awards for first-, second- and third-place angler, top lady angler, champion junior angler, outstanding captain and outstanding mate.

Entry fee for the Presidential is $700 for the first angler per boat, with additional anglers’ entry fee at $650, up to four per boat, until Jan. 3, 2023. After Jan. 3, the entry fee for the first angler increases to $800 and each additional angler is $750.

Evening social event tickets for nonanglers are available for purchase. In addition, Cheeca Lodge offers a special Presidential Tournament value on regular rooms for tournament anglers.

Money raised from the Gold Cup Series benefits the Islamorada Charter Boat Association.