Press Release
Sound is the #1 factor in deterring crime and finding lost victims. When you are injured, cold, lost and tired, shouting can leave you hoarse and exhausted in a matter of minutes.
However, if you can breathe, you can easily blow a whistle and be found by Rescue Personnel.  A “sounding devise” is one of the requirements in order to be awarded a Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check Decal. Besides whistles, there are other types of “Sounding Devices: i.e. Air Horns and Bells. But a whistle is the least expense type of sounding devise. And is the easiest devise to carry on your person or tied to your Life Jacket.
In cooperation with the National Safe Boating Council and other agencies, the Coast Guard Auxiliary gives away “Whistles” at public events like; boat shows, safe boating events, state fairs, etc.
Before you leave the dock, be sure you have all the proper & required equipment on board your vessel.
And don’t forget to wear a life jacket and carry a sounding devise! These items might just save your life.

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The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is a uniformed volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard created by an Act of Congress in 1939. The Auxiliary, America’s Volunteer Guardians, supports the Coast Guard in nearly all of the service’s missions.

October 16th: Middle Keys Lionfish Derby at Keys Fisheries in Marathon

November 13th: Lower Keys Lionfish Derby at Hurricane Hole Marina in Key West

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Sign up for a Lionfish Derby to win over $3000 in cash and prizes AND help rid our waters of these nasty, mean-spirited creatures that are invading our waters!

Lad Akins and Andy Dehart capture a lionfish during a recent REEF Lionfish Research Project. Photo courtesy of reef.org

Lionfish have venomous spines capable of not only deterring predators but also inflicting serious and sometimes even fatal stings to humans.  They were first introduced to our waters through the aquarium trade in the 1980′s and were first reported outside the Bahamas in 2007.  Reproducing at a rate of over 2 million eggs per year each!  Most native predators avoid them and they consume over 56 species of fish that are ecologically important.

Click Here to Register!

Dates: Saturday, September 18th – 8 am to 4 pm and Sunday, September 19th – 8 am to 1 pm at Zane Grey (at World Wide Sportsman 2nd floor) in Islamorada. There is a fee for materials.

This is a comprehensive program designed for both beginner and experienced boater. It will be taught by certified U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Volunteer Instructors, and professional guest lecturers (FWC and NOAA). Please register early since class size is limited.

Sign up for the class and learn – boating rules, laws, safety equipment, boat handling, weather and possibly get a break on your boat insurance. This year the program will include a session aimed towards “Local Knowledge Navigation”. Many insurance companies offer discounts on boat insurance to individuals who successfully complete this program. Individuals who successfully complete the course and exam are awarded certificates and state boating cards.

Come and help us make a difference in boating safety in the Florida Keys.

Walk-ins are discouraged since pre-registering is required.

For more information and to pre-register call:

1-888-470-5566 OR call Pat Fincannon 305-896-1964
Visit us on-line at: a0701308.uscgaux.info

Presented to you by the captains of the 7 mile marina and sponsored by both 7 Mile Marina and Captain Hooks Marina and Dive Center.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to get some great information from the pros and enjoy the food and good times.

We’ll see you there!!

The Florida Keys is crazy for lobster! Lobster “mini-season” is open today and tomorrow.  Boaters will be out in full force hunting for “bugs”.  They have been scoping out the best spots for days – insuring that they will be able to catch their limit.  It is one of our favorite times of the year.  If you go out (and you really should!) be sure to play it safe on the water and know the rules! The FWC will be out in full force too!

Click here to share your pictures on this site

Visitors and locals alike will be on the water having a crazy good time.  Usually drinking too much and getting way too much sun!  So please be careful if you’re out on the water this week, make sure you know the rules and do your best to take care of our reef!

Want to improve your castnetting skills? Capt. Hooks Marina and 7 Mile Marina are teaming up to bring you “The Art of Castnetting”, and hands-on seminar on how to cast a net for ballyhoo, mullet, pilchards, threadfin, etc.

Everyone is invited, so bring the family. They’ve even got complimentary appetizers compliments of Salty’s Waterfront Grill.

This seminar is part of a series of free seminars that will take place every other Tuesday night at 7 Mile Marina. Future topics will include trolling offshore, tackle, bait, flats, reef, knots and boat safety.

So go on over to 7 Mile Marina for lots of fun and good information this Tuesday!

Over 60 fish were weighed in over the weekend including this record black grouper – 75.8 lbs – impressive!  See below for the tournament results or go to www.FloridaKeysOpen.com for more information and pictures.

Team Competition – Pelagic
Champions: Jose Santeiro & Miguel Guinovart with 27.1 points

Menʼs Individual Competition – Pelagic
Champion: Miguel Guinovart with 27.1 points

Juniorʼs Individual Competition – Pelagic
Champion: Steel Rocket with 16.2 points

Team Competition – Reef
Champions: Miguel Guinovart & Jose Santeiro with 155.3 points

Menʼs Individual Competition – Reef
Champion: Miguel Guinovart with 99.9 points
2nd Place: Jose Santeiro with 55.4 points
3rd Place: Jeremy Foell with 35.2 points

Juniorʼs Individual Competition – Reef
Champion: Steel Rocket with 49.8 points
2nd Place: Dane Ralph with 29.2 points Travis
3rd Place: McMillan with 24.8

Biggest Pelagic Fish: Kingfish              27.1 lbs.              Miguel Guinovart
Second Biggest Pelagic Fish: Cobia                   16.2 lbs.             Steel Rocket

Biggest Reef Fish: Grouper              75.8 lbs.             Miguel Guinovart
Second Biggest Reef Fish: Amberjack         40.2 lbs.             Steel Rocket

Big Wahoo—- 15.2 lb    Dan Coll             “Risky Business”

Womans Mahi—21.4 lb    Lara Rutskin     “Equity Too”

Mens Largest —32.3 lb    Bobby Everett     “Nuff Said”

Combined Weight—51.3 lb   “Reel Conch”

88.9 lb Yellowfin Tuna caught by Tim Hansen (left) aboard "Bottom Line III". Also pictured, Brandon Masiello, Capt. Carl Masiello, Terry Berman and Steve Oropeza

Anglers in the Drambuie Key West Marlin Tournament are to compete for a guaranteed cash purse of more than $50,000. The tournament takes place in conjunction with Key West’s Hemingway Days celebration, held each July to honor the legacy of the literary giant.

Teams can win substantial cash prizes for accumulating the most points for blue marlin, white marlin and spearfish. The first-place team earns $25,000, while second- and third-place prizes are $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. Teams also can enter one fun fish (dolphin, tuna, wahoo or released sailfish) per boat per day to add to their point total.

All marlin must be tagged and released unless their weight exceeds 600 pounds.

Boats entered in the marlin division can pay an additional fee to compete for $10,000 cash to be awarded in the fun fish division. Cash prizes are to be presented for the three heaviest dolphin, three heaviest tuna (yellowfin, blackfin and skipjack) and three heaviest wahoo.

Final registration is set for 4-6 p.m. Wednesday at the Conch Republic Seafood Company, 631 Greene St. A captains meeting is to begin at 6 p.m. with a tournament auction and raffle to follow.

Lines are to be in the water from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 22 and 23, and from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 24. Weigh-ins are scheduled for 4-6:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 3-5 p.m. Saturday at the Conch Republic Seafood docks.

Thursday’s weigh-in is to be followed by a 6:30 p.m. cocktail party and island pig roast at the Doubletree Grand Key Resort, 3990 S. Roosevelt Blvd.

Following Friday’s weigh-in, anglers can enjoy 6:30 p.m. dockside cocktails and a fish fry at Conch Republic Seafood Co., 631 Greene St.

The tournament awards banquet is scheduled for Saturday, July 24,at the Westin Key West Resort and Marina,245 Front Street. Cocktails and a silent auction are to begin at 6:30 p.m., with dinner and awards presentations starting at 7:30 p.m.

Tournament entry fees is $1,800 per boat for two anglers to compete in the marlin division and attend tournament social events. Marlin division competitors can qualify for cash prizes in the fun fish division for an extra $300 entry fee per boat.

There is no maximum number of anglers per boat, and additional anglers over two can register for $200 apiece, which includes social privileges. Additional social tickets can be purchased for $150 each.

For more information and registration, call (305) 292-2710 or e-mail info@KeyWestMarlin.com.



Islamorada USCGA Flotilla 13-08 Announces “WEEKENDER” Boating Safety Program

Session Dates: Saturday, July 10 – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, July 11 – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
at Sea Base (Boy Scout camp) in Lower Matecumbe, Islamorada. There is a fee for materials.

This is a comprehensive program designed for both beginner and experienced boater. It will be taught by certified U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Volunteer Instructors, and professional guest lecturers (FWC and NOAA). Please register early since class size is limited. Please register by Friday, July 2nd

Sign up for the class and learn – boating rules, laws, safety equipment, boat handling, weather and possibly get a break on your boat insurance. This year the program will include a session aimed towards “Local Knowledge Navigation”. Many insurance companies offer discounts on boat insurance to individuals who successfully complete this program. Individuals who successfully complete the course and exam are awarded certificates and state boating cards.

Come and help us make a difference in boating safety in the Florida Keys.

For more information or to pre-register call:
1-888-470-5566  OR call Patricia Fincannon-305-451-3389 or 896-1964cell
Visit us on-line at: a0701308.uscgaux.info

Contact: Capt. Dan Rudacille
(305) 395-0546
SevenMileMarina@aol.com

2ND ANNUAL 7 MILE MARINA MARATHON SHARKATHON
SHARK TOURNAMENT OFFERS EXCITING FISHING AND $25,000 PURSE

MARATHON, Florida Keys –.  The 2ND Annual 7 Mile Marina Marathon Sharkathon, to benefit Forgotten Soldiers Outreach and Grace Jones Community Center, is set for Friday and Saturday, April 9 and 10, in Marathon FL.  This one-day, all release tournament boasts $25,000 in cash awards*.
This is a team tournament with points awarded based on the type of sharks caught and released.  Qualifying species include mako, tiger, hammerhead, bull, black tip/spinner and lemon.  The winning team with the most points will receive a grand prize of $15,000 cash*.  Cash prizes will be awarded for the second and third place teams as well.
The tournament is set to get underway with a mandatory Captain’s meeting and kick-off party on Friday, April 9 at 6:30 pm at Fat Buoyz Pub & Grill at the 7 Mile Marina, MM 47.5 Gulf side in Marathon.  The awards banquet and ceremony will feature live music and raffle prizes and will take place at Fat Buoyz beginning at 6:30 pm on Saturday.
Fishing is to run from 8 am until 3 pm on Saturday, April 10.  The use of non-offset circle hooks is mandatory.  The killing of a shark, whether intentional or not, will result in automatic disqualification of the entire team.
The inaugural tournament in April 2009 saw more than 100 sharks caught and released.  The $5,000 top prize went to Team No Slack consisting of Capt. James “Bucko” Platt, Capt. BJ Meyer and Jamie Koval.  They focused on bull sharks and their catch of 12 paid off for them.  Team Carnada, with Capt. Chris Morrison and Henry Waszcuk, took second place with two bulls and ten black tips.  The team was rewarded with a check for $3,000. Third place and $2,000 went to Team Bionic with Capt. Jack Callion, Buck Bielik, John Ryan and Pat Lynch.  They caught 12 black tips and 1 lemon.
Event organizers anticipate much greater participation this year.  With more boats there is more competition, more sharks caught, more fun and more purse money!  Registration begins immediately.
Entry fee is $600 per boat, which covers the Captain and first two anglers.  Each additional angler is $100.  There is an early entry fee of $550 if received by April 1.  The tournament organizers have waived a late fee this year, and registration can be performed until the evening of the Captain’s meeting.  The fee includes entry, three tickets for both the Captain’s meeting kick-off party and the awards banquet and a tournament shirt for each captain and angler.  Additional tickets can be purchased at each event.
The 7 Mile Marina Marathon Sharkathon, together with its sponsors, aims to provide an exhilarating fishing experience while benefiting charities that enhance the quality of life for Marathon’s children and national charities showing support of US soldiers serving overseas, covering all world theaters.  For more information and registration, contact Capt. Dan Rudacille at (305) 395-0546 or visit their website www.7MileMarina.net where a registration form can be downloaded.

When winter comes around and the wind begins its frosty revenge, there’s only one thing to get our blood boiling… Kingfish, Kingfish, Kingfish! Just in time for the 1st annual Lower Keys Kingfish Tournament! In this pod cast we have Capt Jim Sharp Jr talking to us about everything you need to know about this tournament. Listen in and learn about how to get involved and have some real fun fishing a great tournament.

This year’s DEMA Dive Industry Trade Show was once again the cornerstone of communications and innovation in the dive business.  It consists of 4 days of meetings, presentations, product and destination displays, and what’s new in the industry.  There were some real highlights this year that every diver should know about especially if that diver intends to come to the Florida Keys.

First, there is the Florida Keys “Wreck Trek.”  The Florida Keys Pavilion was a sight to behold as you entered the display resembling a ship wreck on the bottom of the ocean.  Port holes displayed underwater scenes typical throughout the Keys to give the visitors the feeling that they were inside the wreck peering out of those port holes.  The Florida Keys have something to be proud of.  Not only do the Keys have the longest barrier reef in the continental US but they have some of more magnificent ship wrecks in the world.  There are wrecks with historical significance that tell the story of the Keys fascinating past while providing a glimpse of the “Keys culture”; relaxed but adventurous.  Then, there are the wrecks, as artificial reefs, that have been purposely placed along the Keys to help preserve the reefs by reducing the diving pressure on them.  These are some of the more popular dives along the Keys because they are an adventure in itself.

I was awestruck when I went down to the pier to see the USNS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg before it was sunk on May 27, 2009.  It sat there awaiting its next mission, all 520 feet, a little rusty, but majestic all the same.  The two radar towers standing out above its decks, that any diver knows, will become ideal habitat for a wealth of marine life.  Underwater, it’s massive structure, will draw some of the biggest marine inhabitants around like 600 pound goliath groupers and great barracudas.  This has become the second largest artificial reef in the world and when you add the Eagle, Benwood, Bibb, Duane, Thunderbolt, and the Adolphus Busch, you get an impressive line-up of ship wrecks and artificial reefs spread throughout the Keys and National Marine Sanctuary.

Second, you will notice many of the great dive shops that service the Keys, all working for your business and interested in promoting the Florida Keys as a vacation destination.  These shops were all participating in lodging and diving giveaways to entice newcomers to the Keys.  They also gave out Florida Keys Wreck Trek Passports.  These passports are to used by the divers to record their experiences diving the many ship wrecks of the Keys.  Many of the shops offered specials to the divers when the passports are presented in the dive shops in proof that they attended the DEMA show.  Past DEMA promotions include a Dive & Drive because of the accessibility of the Keys.  The Florida Keys’ Overseas Highway, from north of Key Largo to Key West, is now an All-American Road.  The Keys highway — U.S. 1 — is the only All-American Road in Florida. It’s the highest recognition possible under the National Scenic Byways program established by the U.S. Congress in 1991. Only 30 other roads in the nation have earned the prestigious title.  Under the National Scenic Byways program, roads can be recognized as All-American Roads based on their archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities.  To earn All-American Road status, a thoroughfare must possess characteristics of national significance and features that don’t exist elsewhere, making it a visitor destination in itself.

Third, DEMA is the perfect venue to get involved in some worthy causes related to the marine environment.  Corals have declined nearly 80% in the Caribbean in the last 30 years, so we are becoming involved with coral restoration program in the Keys.  The Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) is a non-profit conservation organization targeting the restoration and survival of the Florida Keys coral reefs.  Ken Nedimeyer heads up the operation in the Keys and will now be expanding their efforts to the Middle Keys.  Ken and his crew run a three day workshop covering activities such as:  learning to maintain coral nurseries, tagging and transporting corals from the nurseries to the restoration sites, planting and measuring corals, follow-up and monitoring the coral colonies.  Captain Hook’s has been selected as the dive shop that the CRF will be working with in the Middle Keys.  We are excited to be selected for this effort and we will be getting the dive community involved along with the Marathon High School Dive Club.  We hope that many of you that are reading this article will want to get involved with this effort.  Please contact us at info@captainhooks.com if you are interested in getting involved.

Fourth, this show above all other shows provides all of the dive professionals the pulse of the dive business.  It is a gathering of people and companies that are interested in taking the next steps to enhancing your experience underwater and to bring more individuals into the wonderful marine world .  Manufacturers of dive equipment and accessories are displaying the latest technology and most innovative products at this show to give them a retail boast when they reach market.  There are the dive destinations, chamber of commerce, city governments, island governments and tourist associations that provide information about the different dive vacation spots around the world.  If you are a dive professional make sure you go, if you are not maybe it’s time to become one.

The Dive Team at Captain Hooks Marina & Dive Center

Since the 1950s, Captain Hook’s Marina and Dive Center has been the place to get everything you need for a day on the water. Charters for fishing, diving, snorkeling, dive instruction and certification; bait and tackle; scuba equipment and air tanks; boat rentals. You can find them on the web at www.CaptainHooks.com

The “Indy 500″ of the powerboat circuit converged on Key West this past weekend for the Key West World Championship Powerboat Races.  With roaring thunder and whining jet engines, these races added a whole other element to the waterside events we have here in the Florida Keys. 

On the heels of a very strong low pressure system followed by a powerful cold front, the World Championship offshore power boat races could not have had better timing.  As the weather came down, the turbos kicked in and the rumbling was heard from the Marquesas all the way to Big Coppitt. 

Click here for tournament results

The 5th Annual Florida Keys Seafood Festival will be on Saturday, January 16th from 11:00am – 9:00pm and will feature our very own Capt. Marlin Scott as the Emcee!  Come out and join us for a fun day of incredible seafood and live entertainment.

Live music in the park all day by the Key West High School Band, the Zack Nasty Band with one of our favorite captains, Capt. Craig Eubank on the guitar, and ZZ NOT coming back this year by popular request.

We’ll be there so come by and say hello!  The admission is free.

Click here for more details

ScubaRadio brings live music, mermaids, and over $12,000 in giveaways to kick off DEMA show each morning!  That’s the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association and it’s November 4-7 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

To thank the dive industry for supporting their 12th year on the air, ScubaRadio will provide their unique brand of entertainment to warm up the crowd as they enter the DEMA show each morning at 10am.

As an added incentive to arrive early for this years’ show, ScubaRadio has teamed up with Explorer Ventures to giveaway one free liveaboard trip each morning between 9:30-10am! That’s four chances to win a 7-day liveaboard trip on Explorer Ventures Southern Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Saba-St Kitts, or Galapagos itineraries. In addition, products from Olympus, Aeris, Nanuk, DAN, UZZI and more will given away to total more than $12,000 in prizes!

Joining ScubaRadio on-stage will be singer/songwriter and avid diver, Pup Morse…The Scuba Cowboy. Pup will be arriving to the DEMA show fresh from recording his latest CD of “Scubaribbean” country tunes. These scuba themed ditties are guaranteed to send attendees into the DEMA show with a smile on their face and spring in their step.

ScubaRadio will once again have the ScubaRadio mermaids on display. However, this year they will be wet….swimming inside a 1000 gallon aquarium!

“I initially created ScubaRadio as an excuse to go diving on company time while working at a radio station in Orlando. While it quickly evolved into the more noble mission of promoting diving to the masses, 12 years later we still focus on having fun and DEMA is the perfect venue to showcase this fact….it’s still a blast doing it too!“ Greg Holt – producer/host of ScubaRadio.

ScubaRadio airs every Saturday from 3-5pm EST on approximately 40 radio stations throughout the US and worldwide at ScubaRadio.com. The weekly show is streamed live, archived and Podcast at a rate of over 2000 downloads a day.

ScubaRadio is the first and only nationally syndicated radio show devoted to diving. For more information e-mail: info@ScubaRadio.com or call 407-679-4658.

Contact Tammie Gurgiolo at (305) 852-9337, e-mail fishnbully@msn.com or write to P.O. Box 432, Islamorada FL 33036.

Contact Tammie Gurgiolo at (305) 852-9337, e-mail fishnbully@msn.com or write to: P.O. Box 432, Islamorada FL 33036.

Contact Claire Williams at (305) 664-4735, visit www.theislamoradafishingclub.com or e-mail fishclubclaire@bellsouth.net.