Women's Fishing Tournament Centered in Perdido

Lost Key Marina and Yacht Club Weigh-in Area

Women anglers and crews depart Friday night to compete in the 31st annual Pensacola Ladies Billfish Tournament.

The event will begin with a captains' meeting at 6:30 p.m. Friday. All of the events, including the weigh-in and awards ceremony, will be held at WCI Lost Key Marina near Perdido Key.

The tournament prohibits the kill of marlin and sailfish. But there will be first- through third-place prizes given for catch and release of both species.

Top three prizes will be awarded for tuna, wahoo, dolphin and swordfish. There also will be a top boat award for the team accumulating the most catch-and-release points.

The entry fee is $165 per angler with a minimum of two anglers per boat. At the meeting, anglers also can enter to win optional cash awards for all species.

Sean Garrison, captain of the "Born 2 Run," said his crew may return to the same area in the Gulf of Mexico where they caught a blue marlin and sailfish during the recent Pensacola International Billfish Tournament .

During that event, the group fished numerous areas but finally found fish about 120 miles southeast of Pensacola to take home the top catch-and-release boat award.

Last year, Kathy and Amanda Wagner, fishing on the "Clearbook" took the two top spots in catch-and-release category.

Emma Land created the big buzz at the weigh-in dock with her 126.5-pound swordfish when she arrived aboard "Fully Involved."

The scales will be open from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

This event has proven to be a spectator hit as the women competitors arrive at the weigh-in dock to record prize-winning catches.

For more information, visit the Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club's Web site at www.pbgfc.com or call the club house at (850) 453-4638.