Pompano Beach, Fla. (Feb 7, 2020) – An anticipated 60 boats and over 500 anglers will go head-to-head offshore in the Atlantic waters, February 21st for the 17th annual Sailfish Challenge, leg 2 of the Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series. On the heels of an $825,000 payout at Operation Sailfish, including winnings of $201,000 for Bar South and $474,000 for Miss Annie, the fleet is primed and ready for another red-hot bite. 45 teams released a total of 373 sailfish at the first stop for the Quest for the Crest series in January.
One of the most distinguishing features of the Challenge is its 3-inlet format where teams can check in from either Government Cut in Miami, Hillsboro Inlet in Pompano Beach or Lake Worth Inlet in West Palm Beach following each day of fishing. Native Son won the 2019 Sailfish Challenge with a total of 20 releases. They came out of Hillsboro Inlet and fished to the north of Palm Beach against several other teams that finished on top of the leader board as well. L&H Sportfishing, a well-known charter boat out of Miami, caught 14 of 16 sailfish on a charter off Miami earlier this week. With a solid concentration of sailfish up and down the coast it will be exciting to see which teams land on the fish this year!
Compliments of Landshark Lager, the 3rd annual “Coin Challenge” is back. The Coin Challenge is a signature category in the tournament where teams are randomly assigned to color groups and battle to see which group releases the most sailfish in the tournament. Each winning team receives a custom-designed challenge coin trophy plus the opportunity to win a grand prize drawing for a 3 day/2 night stay at the luxurious Margaritaville Hollywood Beach resort, plus a $500 Gift Card to use on property.
The 2020 Quest series features many new additions to both the general and optional prize categories, with over 60 ways to win. Among the changes, there are a number of new meat fish categories up for grabs in the tournaments including a winner-take-all heaviest fish worth $3,500 and meat fish daily payouts based on the combined weight of your four biggest fish each day. Family Matters won $22,050 for a 39.8-pound king at Operation Sailfish and Blue Moon won $18,000 in the aggregate weight categories.
Sailfish Challenge has a NEW host venue this year! The 17th annual kick-off party and captains meeting will be hosted at the beautiful, “Oceanic” at Pompano Beach Pier on Wednesday, February 19th from 6 – 10 p.m. Registered teams will enjoy a second-floor oceanfront view, an amazing spread of food, open bar, sponsor displays, live music by DJ Select, and more. The tournament is also a fundraiser for the ongoing Bahamas Relief effort. The Sailfish Challenge has teamed up with its eyewear sponsor, Costa, and their ‘onecoast’ initiative that is devoted to delivering relief, rebuilding, and repairing coastal areas impacted by natural disasters. Charitable proceeds from the Challenge will be donated directly to OneCoast and our loved ones in the Bahamas. To kick off the fundraising effort, the Sailfish Challenge kick-off party will feature a “Lucky Fish” contest where with 50% of the proceeds awarded to the winner and the remaining 50% to OneCoast.
Competition days are set for Friday, February 21st and Saturday, February 22nd. The top team award is even bigger for the 2020 Challenge with an $18,000 guaranteed payout. Blue Moon Fish Company will treat the winning team to a VIP dining experience during the awards ceremony at their premier waterfront restaurant in Fort Lauderdale. Who will claim their seat at the table this year! Grab your team and get ready for The Challenge!
2020 Sailfish Challenge Details:
The kick-off party is held on Wednesday, February 19 at the beautiful new beachfront restaurant, “Oceanic at Pompano Beach Pier”. This night features live music, a silent auction, vendor displays, food and beverage hospitality for sponsors and anglers. Competition days are both Friday, February 21 and Saturday, February 22, followed by a dinner and awards presentation Sunday, February 23 at Blue Moon Fish Co. in Lauderdale by the Sea. Tournament registration is available online at www.Sailfishchallenge.com. Registration remains open until the conclusion of the kickoff party on February 19.
For more information on the Sailfish Challenge, visit www.SailfishChallenge.com or call 954-725-4010. The entire Quest for the Crest schedule and series standings can be found at http://www.questforthecrest.com
About Bluewater Movements:
Bluewater Movements, Inc., is a sport’s marketing company based in South Florida, the sportfishing capital of the world. Throughout the past 20 years, our team has developed some of the most successful competitive fishing events in the industry. Our background in tournament fishing coupled with our expertise in event marketing has enabled a premium experience for tournament anglers and sponsors. Within our portfolio, there are six wildly popular fishing tournaments, all hosted at various venues across South Florida.
About the Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series:
This iconic series hosts some of the top bill-fishing teams in the sport. Teams in this 3-leg series are expected to compete for an estimated purse of $1.9 million in 20120 However, the most coveted award – The Crest – doesn’t come in the form of a cash prize. The Crest represents the pinnacle of tournament sailfishing. It is viewed as the highest accolade bestowed upon a team. Presented in jacket form, competitors must emerge as the most dominant among an elite field in order to don the burgundy jacket. Privilege is earned, not given on this quest to crown a world champion.
