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UM Sports Hall of Fame & Museum Celebrity Fishing Tournament – June 19-21, 2025

Team Coastal Ink Printing wins the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame & Museum’s 2024 Celebrity Fishing Tournament

The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame & Museum proudly returned to Islamorada, Florida June 20^th through the 22^nd for its 2024 Celebrity Fishing Tournament.  Hosted by UM Hall of Famer Gary Dunn, the event kicked off with a party at his establishment, the Ocean View Inn and Sports Pub, known to locals as the O.V.   Over 20 Hall of Famers and Celebrity Athletes attended the event including Islamorada’s own Coach Jimmy Johnson. This star-studded event sponsored by Spencer “CaneDoc” Kellogg and Tito’s Handmade Vodka, provided a unique meet-and-greet opportunity for fans and anglers alike.

The festivities continued Friday as the Islamorada Resort Collection’s La Siesta welcomed over 350 fans and anglers alongside UM Hall of Famers. The beach was abuzz with raffles, auctions, vendors, and gifts tossed to the crowd by Canes’ mascot Sebastian the Ibis, marking the official start of the fishing tournament. Despite the windy conditions, everyone enjoyed beverages sponsored by the UM Sports Hall of Fame & Museum’s President-Elect Mark Drobiarz’s ABC Bartending School and Islamorada Brewery and Distillery, along with delicious food provided by Coastal Ink Printing.

Anglers were greeted with moderate winds and up to 6-foot seas on Saturday, as they set out to catch Dolphin fish, Blackfin Tuna, Kingfish, and Wahoo, with the combined weight of three Dolphin determining the winners. While the anglers were out at sea, their families enjoyed a free kids and family fun day at the Theater of the Sea, sponsored by the UM Sports Hall of Fame & Museum’s Vice President Judy Pantoja-McCabe of Morgan Stanley.

Everyone joined in at the weigh-in at Three Waters Marina starting at 2PM. The first boat to arrive was Team Coastal Ink Printing aboard the Sea Senorita with captain Casey Yaworski at the helm. The team weighed in two dolphin fish at 5.5 and 4.1 pounds and then brought out the big one, a 42.8-pound bull dolphin caught by Tyler Webb from Tavernier, FL. Anglers Kendra Paulson also from Tavernier along with Emalee Taylor of Clearwater, FL and Ft. Lauderdale, FL resident Alissa Keiler would take the lead with a three fish total of 52.4 pounds, securing them a $7,000.00 first-place check, a stunning trophy, and flowers for the ladies, all sponsored by none other than Coastal Ink Printing. Tyler Webb’s impressive catch earned him the Top Male Angler award.

Although rain ripped through the weigh station 50 minutes before it was over, weighmaster John Ouellete remained steadfast, making sure every fish was weighed. When the weigh scales closed, Captain Brian Cone’s Contagious claimed second place with a three-fish total of 31.0 pounds. Brothers Don and Richard Deleon along with Bruce Marchetti all from Maimi, FL weighed in fish at 18.0 and 6.0 pounds along with Tavernier, Florida’s junior angler Andy Cone who weighed a 7.0 pounder to win the Top Junior Angler award.  The team also won the Big Three division and the Bucket of Bucks taking home the Bean Automotive Group sponsored trophy but a check for $6,569.00.

Anglers Devon Hannah from Marathon, FL, Karel Lewis from Little Torch Key, FL with RJ and Joshua Lewis of Summerland Key, FL weighed three fish of 12.9, 7.1 and 5.1 pounds for a total of 28.1 pounds to win third place. The team was fishing aboard Captain Resse Lewis’ Natural II and came in second in the Big Three division and third in the Bucket of Bucks winning $3,338.00 and a Marine Max sponsored third place trophy.  Captain Roy Lindback aboard his charter boat TIKI led Titusville, FL anglers Cooper and Kevin Liston fishing with AJ and Jim Nardi from Davie FL and Rodney Bryson from West Palm Beach Florida to a T-ROC sponsored fourth-place finish. The team weighed dolphin of 17.2, 4.2 and 4.8 pounds for a total of 26.2 pounds. They also took second place in the Bucket of Bucks and third in the Big Three division.  Their winnings totaled $2,231.00.  Fifth place went to team McCanes with anglers Mead McCabe from Coconut Grove, FL, Manny Lemus of Tavernier, FL, Steve Smithies and John Meltzer from Miami, FL, along with McLean, Virginia anglers Robert, Michael, and Bill Luebke.  The team took home a Chupi sponsored trophy.

Team Chupi angler, Freda Valdes from Miami, FL won the Top Lady Angler award sponsored by Islamorada Brick Company with a 12.6 pound dolphin.

Team CaneDoc, comprised of anglers Spencer “CaneDoc” Kellogg from Miami, Stephen Kellogg from Seattle, WA, AC Tellison of Weston FL, Islamorada anglers Phillip Bryant, Craig Edwards, Ethan Edwards and Kenny Spaulding, weighed in three dolphin of 5.6, 6.2 and 6.3 pounds plus three Blackfin Tuna of 29.0, 24.4 and 23.2 pounds for a combined weight of 94.7 pounds, winning the Johnny Walker Masters of the Ocean award of $5,738.00. The King of Fish $500.00 award, sponsored by M Gaylord Trust, went to Stephen Kellogg with the 29.0-pound Blackfin Tuna.

Despite rainy conditions, the awards banquet at La Siesta Resort continued in true Florida Keys fashion, with food and drinks moved under the tent. Anglers and celebrities with their families and friends gathered as the music and awards ceremony commenced, and the rains subsided.  Hurricane’s legendary announcer Jay Rokeach announced the winners as the UM Sports Hall of Fame & Museum’s President and Hall of Famer Mike Ward presented the awards. The UM Sports Hall of Fame & Museum looks forward to returning to Islamorada next June 19^th through the 21^st for the 2025 Fan Fest and Fishing Tournament. For more information visit CanesFish.com.