The tournament angler who catches the highest total inches of permit on fly on the flats earns the title of grand champion. Awards also await the grand champion guide, runner-up grand champion and the angler who catches the event’s largest permit.
The fly-only Del Brown Permit Tournament begins with a kick-off event and captains meeting at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 13, at La Trattoria Oceanside, 3593 S. Roosevelt Blvd. in Key West.
The angling action is scheduled Monday through Wednesday, July 14-16. Daily 6:30 a.m. breakfasts are scheduled at Hurricane Hole Marina, 5130 Overseas Highway on Stock Island, and boats can depart at 7:30 a.m. each day.
Lines-out is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. daily, with post-fishing hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar available upstairs at Hurricane Hole.
An awards ceremony is to follow Wednesday’s fishing and scorekeeping at the marina.
The entry fee is $1,500 per angler and space is still available for those interested in participating. Professionals and guides are allowed to compete as well.
Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Jon Ain Memorial Fund at Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. Ain, one of fly fishing’s top permit anglers and the organizer of Key West’s March Merkin tournament, died in 2012.
Information and registration: www.delbrown.com, 305-360-6969 or 305-744-0903
Key West visitor information: www.fla-keys.com/keywestor 1-800-LAST-KEY
Florida Keys fishing information:www.fla-keys.com/fishing
