The 2010 MARCH MERKIN INVITATIONAL PERMIT TOURNAMENT dates are March 15th, 16th, 17th & 18th, 2009.
The tournament events are being held at Key West Harbour Yacht Club and each fishing day starts and ends at Key West Harbour Yacht Club. The Marina is located at 6000 Peninsular Avenue on Stock Island.
There will be a welcome cocktail party at the Saltwater Angler in Key West on March 14th for all March Merkin anglers and guides. Aaron Adams from Mote Labs and Bonefish Tarpon Trust will talk about the permit tagging program that is commencing.
On each fishing day, coffee, juice and pastries will be available at 7:00am at the Marina . Boats may leave the dock at 8:00am and begin fishing anytime thereafter. Fishing ends at 4:30 pm . Boats must return to the Marina by 6:00 pm .
Please note that NO box lunches are provided for tournament participants and breakfast is limited.
Also, the rules require that each fish be photographed with a digital camera which must be provided by the Angler or the Guide. At the close of each fishing day, a Daily Catch Form and the marked tape must be given to the Scorekeeper if one or more fish are caught. The Scorekeeper must also be shown a photograph on the screen of the digital camera of each fish caught.
All proceeds from the tournament after the deduction of direct tournament costs will be donated as follows: 50% to the Don Hawley Foundation for the benefit of Florida Keys guides who experience some financial hardship; 50% to the Tarpon & Bonefish Trust.
The members of the Tournament Rules Committee are: Jon Ain, Tom Levandowski, Chris McCreedy and Bill Houze.
The Scorekeepers is: Shirley Ain.
Monday, March 15th . This is not a fishing day. There is a reception starting at 6:00pm at Key West Harbour Yacht Club. Appetizers will be served and there will be a cash bar. Anglers and Guides will each receive a bag with a number of gifts and other items. There will be a hat and long sleeved t-shirt included.
Auction items will be displayed with a minimum bid. Some auction items will be part of a silent auction with results finalized by the end of the tournament.
We will also have a limited number of hats and t-shirts available for sale: $20 for hats; $35 for shirts (we will have small & medium sizes this year). Also included will be an extra set of Tournament Rules, Daily Catch Forms and a brochure about the Don Hawley Foundation. Measuring devices, tapes and markers will also be given out. At 7:00pm a buffet dinner will be served.
Following dinner, Jon Ain will go over any rules questions and explain how to measure and photograph fish.
Tuesday, March 16th. Following the fishing, appetizers will be served and there will be a cash bar.
Wednesday, March 17th . Following the fishing, appetizers will be served and there will be a cash bar.
Thursday, March 18th . Following the fishing, there will be a appetizers served at 5PM. . At 6PM, awards
The awards are as follows:
Grand Champion
Roger Fowler Sculpture
Guide to Grand Champion
Roger Fowler Sculpture
1st Runner-Up
Stainless Steel Permit Wall Sculpture
Guide to 1st Runner-Up
Stainless Steel Permit Wall Sculpture
2nd Runner-Up
Stainless Steel Permit Wall Sculpture
Guide to 2nd Runner-Up
Stainless Steel Permit Wall Sculpture
Largest Permit
Engraved Permit Plaque
Guide to Largest Permit
Engraved Permit Plaque
We will also auction off the balance of items provided by our sponsors. The list of items to be auctioned with minimums have been previously made available. You can bid for friends too. What is not sold at the auction will be sold on e-bay.
Every Inch Counts