The Waterman Fly Fishing Tournament 2023 - REGISTRATION IS OPEN

The Waterman Fly Fishing Tournament is back for 2023. This is the third year of the this tournament benefiting Tampa Bay Waterkeeper. Registration is open and we only have fifteen (15) open spots remaining as of 11/28/22. The raffle prizes will be epic as they have been the past two years. Sign up ASAP before all the spots are filled.

REGISTRATION LINK: https://ianglertournament.com/waterman-fly-fishing-tournament-2023

The Waterman Fly Fishing Tournament is a two-day, fly only Redfish tournament with a Snook Calcutta to be held on February 4th and February 5th, 2023. The virtual Captain’s Meeting will be held at 7:00pm on Friday February 3rd, 2023. The fishing boundaries are the west coast of Florida from the Southern Tip of Sanibel Island to the Southern Edge of the Crystal River Power Plant Main Channel. The two-day, photo submission format will make it possible for fisherman in this entire range to participate. The Waterman culminates in an Awards Banquet with a can’t-miss Raffle made possible by our generous sponsors. A limited amount of guest tickets to the Awards Banquet are available for purchase for $50.00. Please visit the “Events” section of www.tampabaywaterkeeper.org to purchase guest tickets. All proceeds from The Waterman Fly Fishing Tournament benefit Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, a non-profit organization dedicated to protection, preservation and improvement of the Tampa Bay watershed.
Target Species:

• Redfish
• Snook

Fishing boundaries:

• Southern Tip of Sanibel Island to the Southern Edge of the Crystal River Power Plant Main Channel

Scoring Guidelines:

• Highest combination of two longest redfish caught between Day 1 and Day 2.
  • Example A: Team X weighs in a 25” redfish and a 20” redfish on Day #1. On Day #2, Team X weighs in a 30” redfish and a 21” redfish on Day #2. Team X’s total score is the combination of its two biggest redfish = 55”.
  • o Example B: Team X weighs in no fish on Day #1. On Day #2, Team X weighs in a 30” redfish and a 28” redfish. Team X’s total score is = 58”
• First Place/Grand Champion
  • Highest combination of two longest redfish between Day #1 and Day #2
• Second Place
  • Second highest combination of two longest redfish between Day #1 and Day #2
• Third Place
  • Third highest combination of two longest redfish between Day #1 and Day #2
• Biggest Redfish
  • Longest Single Redfish
• Snook Calcutta $25 per Angler or $50 per two-angler team, winner takes 50% of the Calcutta Pot with the remaining 50% donated to Tampa Bay Waterkeeper
  • Longest Single Snook
• Tie Breaker
  • In the event of a tie for 1st, 2nd or 3rd place, Biggest Redfish and/or the Snook Calcutta, the tie breaker will be a casting competition based on fly casting distance and accuracy.
  • Each team will select on angler from the team who will perform one (1) distance cast and one (1) accuracy cast. One (1) point will be awarded for each foot of distance. One (1) point will be deducted from the distance score for every inch between the fly and the target on the accuracy cast (distance 60ft). Each angler will have one practice cast for distance and one practice cast for accuracy. Practice cast does not count toward the score. Highest score wins the tie breaker. Each angler will use the same rod, reel and line for the tie breaker which will be supplied by the tournament officials.

The Waterman 2023 Awards Dinner:

• Join us for an Awards Dinner and Raffle at the Bradenton Yacht Club! Additional guest tickets are limited so be sure to reserve your spot. To purchase guest tickets visit https://www.tampabaywaterkeeper.org/events/the-waterman-2023-awards-dinner