OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT PROGRAM November 10-12, 2016 Proceeds to benefit The Guides Trust Foundation GUIDES TRUST FOUNDATION
We Greatly Appreciate and Acknowledge All of Our Tournament Sponsors:
Dear Friends, Greetings from Cheeca Lodge & Spa in the heart of Islamorada, Florida. We cordially invite you to attend the Fifth Annual Cheeca Lodge All American Backcountry Fishing Tournament, set for November 10-12, 2016. Anglers will compete for trophies and prizes for releasing five different species of fish: snook, redfish, bonefish, tarpon and permit. Our goal is to make this event the most impressive and celebrated fishing tournament in the Keys by bringing Cheeca s brand of casual elegance to every aspect of this event - from the trophies, to the gift bags to the banquets. Fishing headquarters for this tournament is World Wide Sportsman, Islamorada s premier headquarters for fishing in the Florida Keys. Proceeds will benefit the Guides Trust Foundation, a local organization that assists Keys fishing guides in need, helping them meet their financial obligations in times of crisis or injury. The GTF also awards scholarships to local students. We encourage our anglers and friends of Cheeca to make a direct donation to the Guides Trust Foundation. Entry fee is $2,000 per angler and includes both social events for the angler, a guest and the angler s guide and his guest. It also includes boxed lunches and a continental breakfast dockside at World Wide Sportsman each morning. The entry fee does not include guide fees. Once again this year in honor of Veteran s Day, we will host two wounded veteran soldiers to compete as a team. We appreciate your interest in this event which is becoming one of the flagship backcountry fishing tournaments in the Florida Keys. For tournament rules or additional entry forms, please visit www.cheeca.com/all-american or contact Lisa Thornhill at (305) 517-4512, or email lthornhill@cheeca.com. Sincerely, Bob LaCasse General Manager Cheeca Lodge & Spa Phone:305-664-4651 Fax: 305-664-2893 Reservations: 800-327-2888 www.cheeca.com
Entry fee: $2,000 per Angler (Includes entry into both social events for angler & guest, guide & guest, plus continental breakfast dockside and boxed lunches at World Wide Sportsman each morning.) Schedule of Events Thursday, November 10, 2016 5:30 9:00 p.m. Gala Welcome Dinner on the Beach at Cheeca Lodge 6:30 p.m. Rules Meeting on the Beach (Guides must attend) Friday, November 11, 2016 6:00 6:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast dockside at World Wide Sportsman 6:30 a.m. Boats may depart 7:00 a.m. Lines in 3:00 p.m. Lines out of the water 3:00 5:00 p.m. Submit Fishing Results to Scorekeeper at World Wide Sportsman Saturday, November 12, 2016 6:00 6:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast dockside at World Wide Sportsman 6:30 a.m. Boats may depart 7:00 a.m. Lines in 3:00 p.m. Lines out of the water 3:00 4:00 p.m. Submit Fishing Results to Scorekeeper at World Wide Sportsman 5:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception, Dinner, Auction and Presentation of Awards in Courtyard & Bougainvillea Ballroom Proceeds benefit the Guides Trust Foundation. Trophies Will Be Awarded in the Following Categories Individual Grand Champion Angler Guide to Individual Grand Champion Angler Runner-up Individual Grand Champion Angler Guide to Runner-up Individual Grand Champion Angler Grand Champion Team Guide to Grand Champion Team Runner-up Grand Champion Team Guide to Runner-Up Champion Team Fly Division Champion Angler* Guide to Fly Division Champion Artificial Division Champion Angler* Guide to Artificial Champion General Division Champion Angler* Guide to General Division Champion Most Outstanding Catch* Best Photo Award* *These awards can be won by a Team Member or an Individual. For more information or additional entry forms, please visit www.cheeca.com/all-american or contact Lisa Thornhill at (305) 517-4512 or e-mail lthornhill@cheeca.com
5th Annual Cheeca Lodge All American Backcountry Fishing Tournament Official Rules 1. DATES: There will be two days of tournament fishing, unless called for weather, November 11 and 12, 2016. 2. FISHING HOURS: All anglers must leave from and return to World Wide Sportsman. No boat will leave earlier than 6:30 a.m. Lines in at 7:00 a.m. and fishing will conclude at 3:00 p.m. On Friday, Nov. 11, all score sheets must be turned in by 5:00 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 12, all score sheets must be turned in by 4:00 p.m. Failure to turn in your score sheets on time will disqualify all of that day s catches. The rules committee, as a possible exception to weigh-in time, will review any mechanical failures. The rules committee will have the final say. 3. SCORE SHEETS: All anglers must turn in daily score sheets signed by angler and guide to the scorekeeper immediately upon docking. You must turn in your score sheets whether you score or not. Ties will be awarded to the angler who catches the last fish first. Bonus points will be awarded to the total points, at the end of the tournament, to teams/ individuals who release three or more different species. Bonus points for teams will be based on the number of species released by the team. 4. ANGLERS: No more than 2 anglers shall be allowed per boat. Anglers must fish from the same boat for both tournament days. The rules committee may make an exception in the case of mechanical difficulties. In order to win the Grand Champion Team/Runner Up trophies the team must consist of two anglers fishing on the same boat. In order to win the Individual Grand Champion Anger/Runner Up, the angler must be the only angler on the boat. In order to win the best photo award, photos must be emailed or texted to the tournament scorekeeper at aab@cheeca.com or 305.522.4868 by 4:00p.m. 5. FISHING AREA: All federal, state and local laws must be followed. Fishing area is restricted to polable depths of water. Fishing in no motor zones and man-made canals is prohibited with the exception of East Cape Canal. No trailering of boats allowed. 6. ELIGIBLE FISH: BONEFISH, TARPON, PERMIT, SNOOK & REDFISH. Each angler shall be allowed no more than five total entries per specie per day. Select your five highest scoring entries, per angler for each species. Chumming is not allowed. 7. TACKLE: Tackle is limited to no more than manufacture stated 12-pound test. Plug, Spinning, General and Fly Tackle will be allowed on all boats. Tackle will be used incompliance with all IGFA rules. Only one working rod will be allowed per angler. Captains may not cast for anglers or reel in any lines. 8. BAIT: Fishing for live bait prior to departure is permissible. Boat captains will be allowed to use cast nets to capture bait. No chumming for bait is allowed after lines in. 9. OFFICIAL RELEASE: Following IGFA rules, the fish is considered released when the captain or the angler grabs the leader. If there is no leader they must grab the line less than one rod length from the hook. If harm to the fish may result in removing the hook the leader may be cut as close to the fish as possible. Try to remove all hooks and lures. Fish should not be removed from the water. 10. GUESTS: No guests are permitted on the boats without the approval of the tournament committee, the other angler and the captain. 11. PROTESTS: All protests must be presented to the Rules Committee in writing by 5:15 PM. Any team/angler found in violation of the rules will be disqualified from that year s tournament. The rules committee will make decisions on the same day that the complaint is received. All decisions of the Rules Committee are final. Score sheets must be signed and turned in whether you score or not. SCORING SCHEDULE SPECIES General Artificial Fly REDFISH 80 100 120 SNOOK 100 125 150 BONEFISH 200 250 300 TARPON 100 125 150 PERMIT 250 300 350 Multiple species bonus to be added at the end of the tournament: 3 Species 50% of total points 4 Species 75% of total points 5 Species 100% of total points
5 th Annual Cheeca Lodge & Spa All American Backcountry Tournament November 10-12, 2016 ENTRY FORM ANGLER NAME: ADDRESS: PHONE: CELL: EMAIL: SHIRT SIZE: SMALL MED LARGE XL 2XL *Will you be bringing a guest? Yes No GUEST NAME: GUIDE S NAME: GUIDE S CELL PHONE: GUIDE S EMAIL: GUIDE S SHIRT SIZE: SMALL MED LARGE XL 2XL Will you be bringing a guest? Yes No GUEST NAME: WOULD YOU LIKE SOMEONE TO CONTACT YOU REGARDING LODGING RESERVATIONS? Yes No Cheeca Lodge & Spa will be offering discounted room rates for All American Tournament Anglers. You may call (800) 327-2888 for rates or more information. Mention promo code AATA. Entry fee: $2,000 per Angler* (*Includes entry into both social events for angler & guest, guide & guest, plus continental breakfast and boxed lunch dockside at World Wide Sportsman each day.) PROCEEDS FROM THE ALL AMERICAN WILL GO TO THE LOCAL GUIDES TRUST FOUNDATION. All participants in the Cheeca Lodge & Spa All American Backcountry Fishing Tournament enter at their own risk. Officials, committee members and all persons connected directly or indirectly with this tournament shall be exempt from any liability suffered to any participant, entrant, sports fisherman, their companions, captains, vessels and equipment which may occur during this tournament. Participants may be photographed at this event and these photographs may be used in conjunction with promotion of this event. I understand and agree to the above paragraph and agree to abide by the Cheeca Lodge & Spa All American Backcountry Fishing Tournament rules. SIGN: Date: PRINT NAME: Please complete this form and send it along with a check made payable to Cheeca Lodge & Spa to: Carolina Pozzo, Accounting, Cheeca Lodge All American Backcountry Fishing Tournament, P.O. Box 527, Islamorada, FL 33036. If you prefer to pay by credit card, please contact Carolina Pozzo for a credit card authorization form. For more information, contact Lisa Thornhill at (305) 517-4512 or via e-mail at lthornhill@cheeca.com.
Last Year s 4th Annual Cheeca Lodge All American Backcountry Tournament Reels In Funds for GTF ISLAMORADA, FLORIDA KEYS A dichotomy of weather conditions over two days of competition created challenging circumstances for anglers fishing the 4th Annual Cheeca Lodge All American Backcountry Tournament, November 12-14, 2015. However, fishing in the Florida Keys was still respectable: Twenty-one anglers fishing on 17 boats released a total of 82 fish, including 35 snook, 21 redfish, 15 tarpon, 10 bonefish and one permit. a team of wounded soldiers to fish in the event, and Capt. Makowski generously donates his time on the water every year. Both of these veteran soldiers suffered serious injuries fighting the war in Afghanistan, and have witnessed massive casualties of their fellow soldiers. I have a hard time with that and the outdoors seems to be the only thing that takes my mind off of it, said Wright. I hunt and fish for my friends who cannot. Runner-Up Team Champions were Greg Wambolt of Littleton, Colorado, and Mike Clark of Meeker, Colorado, who fished with Capt. Chuck Schafstall and released five fish three snook, a redfish and a bonefish. Michael Sullivan from Arlington, Virginia, released an impressive five bonefish on fly to win Grand Champion honors in the Fly Division. He fished with Capt. Duane Baker, who is Commodore of the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association and Board Member of the Guides Trust Foundation, the tournament s beneficiary. The first day was gorgeous, but the second day was windy, cloudy and difficult, said Individual Grand Champion Angler Jim Bokor of Tavernier, Florida. Bokor fished with Captain Frank Ortiz and released three tarpon, seven snook and five redfish all on bait, which also won him the General Division Champion honors. Frankie had a plan, and the plan came through, Bokor said. He praised Ortiz, his fishing guide of many years, for his wins. You can be the greatest angler in the world, but if you don t have a talented guide like Frankie, it doesn t matter. You won t win. Case in point Bokor accidently hooked Ortiz shirt while casting for a tarpon, but Ortiz was still able to guide him to the release. I hooked my guide, and still caught the tarpon, Bokor said. A magnificent 25-pound permit won angler Brian McCullis from Denver, Colorado, the Most Outstanding Catch award. He was fishing with Capt. Paul Tejera. Best Photo Award of a stunning bayside seascape went to James Holmes of Ashland, Virginia, who was fishing with his wife Andrea. Another hometown legend, Stu Apte from Tavernier and Bozeman, Montana, was named Runner-Up Grand Champion Angler. Apte released a total of 10 fish 8 reds, 1 tarpon and 1 snook, and also took home the Artificial Division Grand Champion trophy. He was fishing with his long-time friend Captain Steve Thomas. For the third year in a row, Captain Mike Makowski led a team of two wounded veteran soldiers to Grand Champion Team honors at the All American. Retired Captain David Inbody from College Station, Texas, and retired Army Airborne Specialist Nathan Wright from Cypress, Texas, released six fish: three bonefish and two tarpon on fly and one bonefish on bait. In honor of Veteran s Day, the All American Tournament hosts
The beneficiary of the Fourth Annual All American was the Guides Trust Foundation (GTF), a local organization that assists Florida Keys fishing guides in need, helping them meet their financial obligations in times of crisis or injury. The GFT also awards scholarships to local students. Following the tournament, Cheeca s General Manager presented Guides Trust Foundation Board Member Duane Baker with a check for $5,000. Also present was Christopher Jordan, Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank. The 2016 tournament will benefit GTF again. For more information on GTF or to donate, please visit www.guidestrustfoundation.org. Signature sponsors in 2015 included Wells Fargo, Abel Reels and Robert-James Sales, Inc., among others.
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For tournament information, contact (305) 517-4512 or email lthornhill@cheeca.com Phone:305-664-4651 Fax: 305-664-2893 Reservations: 800-327-2888 www.cheeca.com