Tag : Steel Box Spring
( Sep. 26, 2008 - Key West, Florida Keys )... Interrupted by evacuation orders for Hurricane Ike in earlySeptember, the Mercury Outboards S.L.A.M. Celebrity Tournament hasbounced back with new dates of October 17-19 for the famed FloridaKeys trilogy fishing event benefiting CF research.

The S.L.A.M., short for Southernmost Light-Tackle Anglers Masters,is part of the Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series now beginningits third decade to raise money for the fight against cysticfibrosis. Capt. Gary and Susan Ellis founded the Redbone tournamentin 1988 as a grass roots effort to help victims like their daughterNicole who have CF. The 19th annual S.L.A.M. targetsthe "big-three" game fish of the Florida flats - tarpon,permit and bonefish. Catching all three on the same day is known asa "flats grand slam."

"It’s one of the most exciting experiences a fly orlight tackle angler can have," said ex-NFL Denver Broncolineman Mark Cooper who hopes to capture the celebrity grandchampion title after being edged-out on the water by baseball hallof famer Wade Boggs last year.

The two-day catch and release tournament is also part of the newESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series package of six televised Redbone andRedbone@Large tournament shows to air next spring. The othertournaments in the Florida Keys "triple crown" are the18th annual Mercury Baybone in Key Largo (Oct. 3-5) for bonefishand permit and the 21st annual Mercury Redbone, (Nov. 7-9) forredfish and bonefish in Islamorada.

"Because of the postponement the tournament has a limitednumber of openings for participants and team entries with greatcaptains to guide them," said Ellis. "For a two-anglerteam the entry fee is $3,000 which includes the guide fees for twodays of fishing, all of the social functions such as the kick-offbeach party, continental breakfasts, box lunches, dockside partieswith hors d’oeuvres, Sunday awards barbeque and a tournamentditty bag."

The tournament’s $2,500 individual entry fee is alsoavailable for those who would like to fish with a celebrity.

"Our host hotel will be the luxurious Beachside Resort whichhas just undergone a multi million dollar renovation," saidSusan Ellis, "and our dockside host will be the Hurricane HoleRestaurant and Marina."

The Redbone has grown from one tournament - with $16,000 raised thefirst year - to 32 events internationally helping significantly bycontributing more than $11 million to the research efforts of theCF Foundation. Last year’s combined events brought in $1.56million.

The S.L.A.M.’s grand champion angler, as do all the Keystrilogy series event grand champions, will receive a stainlesssteel Rolex timepiece and qualify to compete in the Florida KeysOutfitters/IGFA Inshore World Championship Tournament next summer.

Original artwork by nationally known marine artists are awarded asprizes to the top anglers and teams, as well as champion anglers inthe general, spin and fly divisions. Artwork is also presented forthe largest and most fish caught and released in each targetspecies.

Besides Mercury Outboards which became the title sponsor in 1991,the other major sponsors for the Mercury S.L.A.M. include RichProducts, Robert James Sales, Redbone Rods, Rolex, Dedicato DePatris Wines, Southeast Construction, Prographics and South FloridaFishing Guides.

For more information about the S.L.A.M. and tournament registrationforms, or for information about the Mercury Outboards RedboneCelebrity Tournament Series, call 305-664-2002