The 45th annual Islamorada Sailfish Tournament, one of the oldest tournaments in the Keys, is set for Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 4-7.

The all-release boat tournament is the first leg of the triple-crown Florida Keys Gold Cup Championship series. The second and third legs are the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament set for Jan. 15-17, 2009, and the Islamorada Fishing Club Sailfish Tournament set for Jan. 21-22, 2009.

Deadline to register for the Gold Cup is Dec. 4, 2008.

The Islamorada Sailfish Tournament rules place a strong emphasis on conservation and sportsmanship. It's also the only tournament in the series to offer a junior division for anglers age 16 and younger.

No higher than a manufacturer's stated 12-pound-test line can be used, nor can hooks other than unaltered, non-offset circle hooks be used with live or dead bait.

The tournament is to open with pre-registration at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, in the main dining room at the Whale Harbor Inn, mile marker 83.5 oceanside in Islamorada.

A gala kick-off banquet follows at 7 p.m. with a rules meeting slated for 7:30 p.m.

Fishing is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 and 6, and from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.

The weigh-in for fun fish closes Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. The public is invited to watch the weigh-in all three days.

A standings party with cocktails and free hors d'oeuvres is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Braza Lena Brazilian Steakhouse at Whale Harbor. A gala awards banquet is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday, also at Braza Lena, with the awards presentation at 8 p.m.

Entry fees are $600 for the first angler fishing aboard a vessel and $500 for each additional angler. The junior angler entry fee is $200. Unlimited anglers are allowed per vessel, though entries are nontransferable and no substitutions are allowed unless approved in writing by the tournament director.

For more information, visit the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament Web site at www.islamoradasailfishtournament.com, call (305) 852-2102 or e-mail ditournaments@aol.com.

To find out about area accommodations, call the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce at (305) 664-4503 or (800) 322-5397, or visit the Florida Keys & Key West Web site at www.fla-keys.com.