Key West Fly Fishing Permit Tournament - March 2008
March Merkin Permit Tournament 2008
The 2008 March Merkin Tournament was held March 11th through 14th, 2007 at Hurricane Hole Marina in Key West, FL
2008 March Merkin Results > Click here to view photos...
The 2008 edition of the March Merkin Invitational Permit Tournament ended with an improbable comeback by 2006 champion team of Jon Ain and guide Captain Doug Kilpatrick who overcame a difficult day one of no fish on only a single cast .
Last year’s champion team of Captains Warren Hinrichs and Kris Suplee led having landed one small fish the first day and two the second to have a seemingly insurmountable lead heading into day 3. Ain and Kilpatrick countered with a single 18 lb. fish on day two and then came back on the last day with the two largest fish of the event at 19 and 21 lbs while Hinrichs and Suplee , failing to land a fish, lost by a total of 24 inches of Permit.
Third place went to Michael O’Brien and guide Captain Mark Phillips. There was the full compliment of 25 boats with many guides competing as anglers in one of the few flats tournaments that allows guides to fish. Good weather with air temps in the high 70’s and water temps in the mid 70’s made for good conditions on the flats but the fishing remained difficult as only Permit fishing can.
All profits from the charity event went to the
Don Hawley Foundation and Bonefish and Tarpon Unlimited . At the event
Bonefish and Tarpon Unlimited announced that The March Merkin had been chosen
as their
first partner tournament. Further information and pictures of the event
are available on www.marchmerkin.com
Permanent Trophy: On permanent display at Florida Keys Outfitters, Islamorada, FL.
March Merkin Permit Tournament - Key West, FL
2008 March Merkin Tournament
Fishing Dates: March 12-14, 2008
Limited To: 25 Boats -
1 Angler and 1 Guide per Boat
25 Boats signed up
as of December 1, 2007.
Entry Fee: $600.00 if received prior to Jan. 1, 2008
$750.00 thereafter.
Excess
Proceeds or Donations: Any balances in excess of direct costs of
the Tournament or any donations will be given as follows: 80% to the Don
Hawley Foundation for the benefit of Florida Key guides who have experienced
financial hardship; and 20% to Bonefish & Tarpon
Unlimited.
2008
Tournament Sponsors:
- Maverick Boats
- Patagonia
- G.Loomis
- Maui Jim Sunglasses
- Rajeff Sports
- Orvis
- Abel Quality Products
- Vaughn Cochran Black Fly Art
- Nautilus Fly Reels
- EP Flies
- Hurricane Hole Marina
- Rio Products
- Scientific Angler
- Temple Fork Fly Rods
- SS Flies
- Monic Lines
- Fly-Fitters
- Saltwater Angler
- Frontiers
- Hatch Fly Reels
- Glacier Glove
- Galvan Fly Reels
- Oakley
- Dante's Key West
- Howard Films
March Merkin 2008
Dates:
March 11th Captain's & Angler's Meeting and Dinner -
6:00 p.m.
March 12th, 13th & 14th
Fishing 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
March 14th - Awards Dinner: 7:00 p.m.
Tournament Info
Key West Weather
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Fishing Report
Read Key West current fishing reports for the Lower Keys & Key West.