Did you know that Florida is responsible for more than 85% of all the grouper caught in the United States? Grouper is a favorite fresh seafood dish in the United States. Several species of grouper flock to the shore of beautiful Sanibel Island every year. Seeking to catch the popular fish in a tournament setting with fellow fishers? Try attending the Second Annual Grouper Slam Fishing Tournament held at Port Sanibel Marina this weekend.
Registration Details
Registration for the Grouper Slam is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday July 8 at the Lighthouse Restaurant. Head over to the Lighthouse Restaurant for a mandatory captains meeting at 7:15 p.m. to go over the fishing tournament rules. Celebrate the looming tournament with a cocktail and fresh seafood dinner on the Lighthouse Restaurant menu.
The $500 entry fee includes four anglers. Additional anglers for your fishing team can register for $100 apiece. The registration fee includes tournament T-shirts for each fisher. We have a registration form handy for you here.
Florida is responsible for more than 85% of all the grouper caught in the United States.
Day of Tournament Start
The honorary start begins at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, July 9 at Port Sanibel Marina so make sure your boats are ready to go and on the starting line at that time.
Grouper Tournament Weighing Procedure
Ready to weigh your catches? The scales open for weighing at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 9 at Port Sanibel Marina to begin weighing your tournament grouper. The weighing scales close for the tournament at 6 p.m. so watch your time on the water closely.
The combined weight of your four selected eligible grouper (which includes gag, red and scamp) will be weighed. Weigh Tip: A minimum of two grouper weighed must be red grouper.
Grouper Payouts
Here are the payout details:
- First place: $9,000
- Second place: $5,400
- Third place: $3,600
- Fourth place: $1,250
- Fifth place: $750
The grouper guarantee, which consists of catching a gag, black, red and scamp grouper, is $2,000.
Fun fish categories, which can earn you $50 per fish, include catches of:
- Mangrove snapper
- Porgy
- Lane snapper
- Mackerel
- Blackfin tuna
- Cobia
- Dolphin
Other types of fish can be caught in the Grouper Slam Fishing Tournament.
The Grouper Slam Cause
A charity auction and raffle will begin after the weigh in. The Grouper Slam will donate proceeds from the auction and raffle to a local charity, Blessings in a Backpack, for the second year in a row. The organization provides Lee County school children with a backpack full of nutritious food each Friday during the school year. Test scores among these children have improves thanks to Blessings in a Backpack.
Plan Your Boating Adventure
Ready to do some serious tournament fishing? Port Sanibel Marina is the place to do it. Rent a boat or book a fishing charter at Port Sanibel Marina, as we have everything you need, including both dry and wet storage for your boat. Need a place to stay? Book a fully furnished condo at Royal Shell Vacation Rentals. Call us at (239) 437-1660 to plan your trip today!
