Florida Keys and Key West Fishing Charters and Guide Service specializing in Tarpon, Permit, Bonefish, Redfish, Snook and Sharks on the Backcountry Flats and Inshore waters of Islamorada and Key West
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TARPON TOUGH AT KEY WEST SLAM

September 7 marked the day that the 2001 Mercury Outboards S.L.A.M. tournament began. As always, this event began with a one day, all flyfishing tournament where the participants choose one fly pattern to attempt to catch Permit, Tarpon and Bonefish. Last year, the team of Jeffrey Cardenas and Tom Rowland made history in this event by catching the first ever slam in competition. To make this day even more impressive, Cardenas/Rowland caught 2 tarpon, 2 bonefish and a permit all on the Merkin.

This year, the weather played an important role in diminishing the catches considerably. In fact, only 4 fish were caught out of the 17 boats that entered the event. Of the catches were 2 tarpon and 2 bonefish. Capt Conan Lemkhul guided his angler to a bonefish, Larry Sydnor guided by Tom
 
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Kokenge landed a bonefish, Kal Blumberg guided by Capt. Tom Rowland landed a tarpon and Doug Kilpatrick guided Joe Viar to a bonefish. As in all Redbone events, ties are resolved by whoever recorded the catch first. This year’s event came down to minutes as Kilpatrick/Viar take the win and Kokenge/Sydnor finish second. Rowland/Blumberg finish 3rd and Conan Lemkuhl rounds out the standings in 4th.

On Saturday morning, the fleet of 45 boats left Key West Bight in pursuit of the prestigious S.L.A.M. title and the elusive tarpon, permit and bonefish that inhabit the Key West waters. After the first day, the standings showed the usual players in these tournaments. Hoover/Bokor came in with 2 tarpon and 2 bonefish, Rowland/Blumberg scored 2 bonefish and 1 tarpon, Murphy/Mahaffey brought in a score of 2 tarpon on fly, Krowka/Zicari had 2 tarpon and 1 permit, while Rusty Albury and Dave Denkert each came in with 2 bonefish and a permit. Each team was set up to double slam and even triple slam if the weather and luck played on their side. As the second day evolved, weather became a problem as the clouds limited visibility. The catches reflected the weather as few fish were caught. Rowland/Blumberg were able to get their 2nd permit by 8:15am but were unable to keep a tarpon on the line to complete the slam. Hoover/Bokor were unable to land a permit, as were Denkert and Albury unable to complete the Slam. Murphy/Mahaffey did catch a crucial bonefish on fly, which would give them the point lead to take 2nd place in the tournament. Zicari/Krowka completed their slam by catching 2 bonefish and won the event.

Rowland/Blumberg won the Spin/Plug division as well as Most Permit Releases and came in 4th overall.

Again, the event was a great success and proves that weather plays a huge part of this type of fishing.
At the end of the month, the Baybone, the 2nd tournament in the series, will be held in Key Largo. Stay tuned to this website for information pertaining to this series