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KEY
WEST, Fla. ----Dan Zicari, Vero Beach, made a positive stand towards
defending his Mercury Redbone series championship, by winning
the 12th Annual Mercury Outboards SLAM celebrity fishing tournament
Sunday.
The grand champion angler was one of only two fishermen to catch
a Fla. Keys grand slam of fish in a tarpon, bonefish and permit.
The SLAM (Southernmost Light-Tackle Anglers Masters) held at the
Conch Republic Seafood, was the opening event in the fall trilogy
of Fla. Keys tournaments, which are annual fundraisers for cystic
fibrosis (CF) research.
Zicari
was guided by Capt. Mark Krowka, Davie, Fla., who led him to his
series title last year. Zicari was also the general division champion.
The
only other angler to catch a slam of fish was former Key West
guide Robert Collins, now of Naples, Fla., who was named Pro Celebrity
Grand Champion Angler. He was guided by Capt. Dave Denkert, Miami.
Channel
7 (WSVN-TV, Miami) investigative reporter Carmel Cafiero, Miami,
was named celebrity grand champion. She and former Miami Dolphins
lineman Eric Laakso, broke a log jam among three other celebrities
including former Florida Marlin’s pitcher Bill Hurst, NY
Giants great Tucker Frederickson, and NASA astronaut Bruce Melnick,
by each catching a bonefish and a permit. Cafiero won on time
catching her permit an hour before Laakso.
First
runnerup angler was Tim Mahaffey, Plantation, guided by Capt.
Rick Murphy, Homestead. Mahaffey also took top honors in the fly
division with two tarpon caught on Saturday.
First
day leader Jim Bokor, Tavernier, guided by Capt. Tim Hoover, Marathon,
finished the tournament in third place after failing to catch
a permit. He and his celebrity partner, Tucker Frederickson, North
Palm Beach, Fla, were the Team Grand Champion Anglers.
They
beat out the team of John Reigor, Marathon, and Pete Johnson,
Scottsdale, Ariz., who were guided by Capt. Rich Tudor, Islamorada.
The spin/plug division champion was Kal Blumberg, Ft. Lauderdale,
guided by Capt. Tom Rowland, Key West.
The
awards banquet was held at the Wyndham Casa Marina, in Key West.
In the series race, Zicari takes 1000 points with Mahaffey following
at 750, Bokor at 500 and Blumberg at 250.
The
point’s series continues at Key Largo with the 11th Mercury
Baybone Celebrity Tournament, Sept. 28 – 30 (bonefish and
permit) and then the 14th Mercury/Cheeca Redbone Celebrity Tournament
in Islamorada, November 2 – 4 for redfish and bonefish. The
tournaments have raised over $2 million for CF research efforts.
For
more information and tournament registration forms, or for information
about the Mercury Outboards Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series,
call Susan Ellis at (305) 664-2002.
2001
Mercury Outboards’ S.L.A.M. Tournament Results
- Grand
Champion Angler: Dan Zicari, Vero Beach, Fla., guided by Capt.
Mark Krowka, Davie, Fla.
- Celebrity
Grand Champion: Carmel Cafiero, guided by Capt. Jeff Johnson,
Tavernier, Fla.
- Pro-Celebrity
Grand Champion Angler: Robert Collins, Naples, Fla. guided by
Capt. Dave Denkert, Miami, Fla.
- Team
Grand Champion Anglers: Jim Bokor, Tavernier and Tucker Frederickson,
North Palm Beach, Fla. guided by Capt.Tim Hoover, Marathon,
Fla.
- First
Runner-Up Angler: Tim Mahaffey, Plantation, Fla., guided by
Capt. Rick Murphy, Homestead, Fla.
- First
Runner-Up Celebrity: Eric Laakso, Parkland, Fla., guided by
Capt. Craig Brewer, Islamorada, Fla.
- First
Runner-Up Team: John Riegor, Marathon, and Pete Johnson, Scottsdale,
Ariz., guided by Capt. Rich Tudor, Islamorada.
- Spin-Plug
Division Champion: Kal Blumberg, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., guided
by Capt. Tom Rowland, Key West, Fla.
- Fly
Division Champion: Tim Mahaffey, guided by Capt. Rick Murphy
- General
Division Champion: Dan Zicari, guided by Capt. Mark Krowka
Total
Boats 34
CONTACT:
Pete Johnson
480-951-3654 (Scottsdale, Ariz)
johnsoncom@aol.com
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