Courtesy Leonard Bryant Pictures
Fishing within the historic Silver Sailfish Derby is extra than simply one other journey offshore. The 2-day event off Florida’s Palm Seashores is the place crews have an opportunity to expertise sailfishing nostalgia. A sold-out 50-boat fleet celebrated this crown jewel of sport fishing in early January, competing with the identical ardour that so many previous members earlier than them dropped at the fishery all through the event’s storied historical past. Anglers need to capitalize on each chew to have a shot at profitable the Derby.
When the event began in 1935, the fleet didn’t go far to start out fishing and would arrange quickly after clearing Lake Value Inlet, and that’s precisely the place the staff on Priceless gained the 86th operating of the world’s oldest sailfish event.
A complete of 223 Atlantic sailfish have been launched over the period of the 2023 Derby; 5 of these sails have been tagged. Calm circumstances offshore on the primary day weren’t ideally suited to spark a productive chew, however when a number of the most interesting captains and crews take to the water on the identical time, sailfish can be caught.
Capt. John Galvin and the staff on El Diablo, a 72-foot Viking, made a splash among the many aggressive sailfishing crowd, taking prime day by day boat honors on Day One with 5 releases. All 5 of El Diablo’s fish have been caught by angler Dylan Torey, and he would earn the title of prime angler within the 2023 Derby. This honor is awarded with the Mrs. Henry R. Rea trophy, an impressive silver sailfish sculpture that dates again to the occasion’s origin in 1935 and is sponsored by Elizabeth Richebourg Rea of Connecticut.
Courtesy Leonard Bryant Pictures
The second and closing day of the Derby would produce 21 extra fish than the earlier day. A chilly entrance pushed by way of that night time and the wind picked up, blowing out of the north—it simply felt like sailfish season. When the climate makes drastic modifications from in the future to the following, there may be alternative for groups to go from zero to hero by adapting to new circumstances offshore. Capt. Nick Carullo and the Goombay Smash staff, fishing on a 39-foot Entrance Runner, had only one fish the primary day. Their objective for Day Two was to shut the hole and make a comeback; they might just do that. Goombay Smash didn’t win all of it, however seven releases on the ultimate day of fishing was good for second place with eight whole releases.
Whereas the boats get greater and sooner with every passing season, generally it doesn’t all the time take a giant transfer to the boundary line to search out sailfish. Anybody who has hung out fishing off the Palm Seashores is aware of that there’s loads of alternative proper out entrance. Capt. Jorge Sanchez and the Priceless staff, fishing on a 48-foot Viking, aren’t any strangers to the Silver Sailfish Derby. Hailing from Coral Gables, Florida, the crew have frequented this historic event in recent times. Priceless was off to a chilly begin on Day One however ended with a tough push for the end line that afternoon, releasing 4 after lunchtime. Regardless of the change in circumstances, the staff picked up proper the place they left off on Day Two, firing on all cylinders to start out the second and closing day of fishing. They landed 10 sailfish that morning and two extra within the afternoon earlier than the 4 p.m. name for strains out. It will be sufficient to say their spot within the historical past books because the winners of the 86th-annual Silver Sailfish Derby with a complete of 16 sailfish releases in two days.
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Capt. Brian Komer and the BeachKomer staff took dwelling prime small-boat honors with six releases aboard their 29-foot SeaVee. This was the smallest boat within the fleet, making this achievement that rather more spectacular.
The highest girl angler trophy is sponsored by the Hampp household of New Jersey in reminiscence of Rose Hampp, who gained the distinction within the 1957 Derby, together with many different awards all through her completed angling profession. Tatiana Usova was awarded the trophy this yr, releasing 4 sails aboard the 46-foot Launch Boatworks Charlie. One other girl angler, 14-year-old Myla Alligood, was named prime junior angler. She launched three sailfish aboard the 76-foot Viking Simply Chillin’. Alligood has now earned this honor for the second yr in row.
