For the second consecutive year, the winners of the Islamorada Swordfish Tournament that ended Aug. 30 were Captain Ricky Linder of Coral Gables, Fla., and his team aboard Jichi.
On both fishing nights of the tournament, anglers Luis Isaias, Albert Castro, Javier Gonzalez and Jimmy David, all of Miami, saw action, catching and releasing three swordfish in calm seas.
"You could have water-skied out there -- it was flat calm, beautiful," said Linder.
As in 2008, the team ran 40 miles south of Islamorada's landmark Holiday Isle to a spot off Marathon, where their six catches earned them 733 points and the win.
In second place with 365 points was the Rock Star team led by Captain Scott Leon of Miami. Rock Star's anglers were Jorge Piedra, Greg Braswell, Rudy Espinosa and Henry Jimenez, all of Miami.
Third place went to Bodacious with Captain Henry Danzig of Islamorada. Anglers Chris Kaulen, Ben Loy and Shay Danzig earned 200 points.
The largest single swordfish was a 233-pounder caught by Albert Castro.
The Islamorada Swordfish Tournament was the first leg of the 2009 Florida Swordfish Series, which offers a guaranteed $10,000 cash grand prize and a $5,000 additional cash prize for the largest swordfish in the series. The second leg is the Miami Swordfish Tournament set for Sept. 24-27.
