Don Hawley Tarpon Tournament
Dates: Jun 6, 2010 to Jun 11, 2010
Location: Islamorada, FL
Contact: Charlotte Ambrogio
(305)-942-0428
Don Hawley Invitational Tarpon Fly Tournament June 7-11, 2010 Fly Fishing was off the chart this week for 25 talented anglers & guides who released an astonishing 216 tarpon! Fish had to be over 40 pounds to count for points in this 5 day event which broke tournament and individual records. Anglers are awarded 1000 points for a release on 12 pound class tippet and 750 points for a release on 16 pound class tippet. A release occurs when guide or angler can grab the leader and break the tippet or remove the fly. It was anyone’s game going into day four when the team of Baker Bishop & Capt Kris Suplee released 7 tarpon on 12 pound and posted a 4 fish/4000 point lead over Carlos Duncan and Capt Rob Fordyce. Vern Olson of Camano Island, WA teamed up with Capt. Bryan Holeman of Key West to release 7 tarpon and win the 16 pound tippet division. Drew Nobregas of Islamorada won the Best New Angler Award with 11 tarpon. At 18 years old, he was also the tournament's youngest competitor. Nobregas was captained by Tad Burke. John Grace of Darien, CT took the coveted Best Other category with Capt. Robert Klein by catching a mackerel. The Hawley Tournament is a fund raiser for the Hawley Foundation that awards scholarships to young people from the Florida Keys and provides support to guides in times of hardship. Please visit www.donhawleyfoundation.org to learn more. AWARDS Daily High Point: Day 1 Rand Holstead 5 on time Day 2 Carlos Duncan & Rob Fordyce 8 Day 3 Baker Bishop & Kris Suplee 7 Day 4 Thane Morgan & Craig Brewer 7 on time Day 5 Carlos Duncan & Rob Fordyce 7 Best Other Fish: John Grace Saw Tooth Mackrel Best New Angler: Drew Nobregas 16 Pound Division 2nd Runner-up Angler: John Grace 2nd runner up guide: Robert Klein 1st Runner-up Angler: Sam Kaufman on time 1st Runner-up Guide: Steve Friedman CHAMPION ANGLER 16 pound division Vern Olson Guide to 16 pound Champion: Bear Holeman 12 Pound Division 2nd Runner-up Angler: Thane Morgan on time 2nd Runner-up Guide: Craig Brewer 1st Runner-up Angler: Greg Smith 1st Runner-up Guide: Scott Collins CHAMPION ANGLER 12 pound division Baker Bishop Guide to 12 pound Champion: Kris Suplee Grand Champion Angler: Carlos Duncan Guide to Grand Champion Angler: Rob Fordyce 25 Anglers Total fish in 12 pound: 185 Total fish in 16 pound: 31 
Luck turned on day five with Duncan and Fordyce releasing 7 to finish with 26 tarpon releases for the week and Grand Champion Angler & Guide honors! At right, Rob Fordyce, Annie Duncan, and Carlos Duncan III.
