Sailfish Season Is Almost Here: Register for the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament by October 31

The co-directors of the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament just sent out the official word to the membership, and it amounts to one date you do not want to miss: early registration closes October 31.

If the December sailfish is on your list this year, here is the whole rundown, including how to enter all three legs of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship.

The Islamorada Sailfish Tournament. December 4-6, 2026

The 63rd annual running of the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament kicks off the Keys sailfish season, and it is the first leg of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship.

A few things worth knowing before you register:

• Early registration ends October 31. Do not sit on it. Late entries pay more and the good dock positions fill up.
• Host marina is Three Waters Resort and Marina in Islamorada. They are offering excellent room rates and dockage rates for tournament boats, plus a special itinerary for family members who are along for the trip but not on the water. If the spouse and kids are coming, that detail matters more than you think.
• New this year: Pro and Non-Pro divisions. Whether you are chasing points on the circuit or you just want to put your team on the scales against honest company, there is now a bracket for you.

Full details, rules, and registration live at islamoradasailfishtournament.com.

What is the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship?

The Gold Cup is a three-event sailfish series run out of Islamorada. You can register for the championship through the same site above, and that page links out to all three legs:

1. Islamorada Sailfish Tournament. December 4-6, 2026
2. Islamorada Fishing Club Captains Cup Sailfish Tournament. January 19-20, 2027
3. Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament. January 22-24, 2027

I put the full 2026-2027 season calendar, including the events outside the Gold Cup, in my tournament schedule post back in August. That one covers Junior week, Sailfly, and Fish for Holly too.

Entering the IFC Captains Cup. January 19-20, 2027

The Islamorada Fishing Club’s Captains Cup Sailfish Tournament is the second leg of the Gold Cup. The entry form and event details are on the club site. A few notes from the co-directors on getting the paperwork in:

• Print the form and email it to Vinnie or to Dianne.
• IFC members can charge the registration fee to their club account.
• Anyone else can mail a check, or call Vinnie at 305-664-4735, Tuesday through Saturday, to pay by credit card.

Entering the Cheeca Lodge Presidential. January 22-24, 2027

The Presidential closes out the Gold Cup from the dock at Cheeca Lodge & Spa. The entry form and tournament information are on the Cheeca site. Got a question about it? The co-directors are happy to help. Contact details are below.

Fishing these tournaments on DirtyBoat

We run the Gold Cup events every year, and tournament weeks disappear fast. Practice days, bait, dockage, crews, and weather windows all stack up in the same four days, and the boats that wait until the week before end up watching the fleet leave without them.

If you want a boat that knows the edge in December, or you are an angler or team looking for a seat, start with the charter rates and schedule or plan a trip and send a message. Coming from out of town? The where to stay guide helps you work the marina math before you book anything.

Tournament contacts

The co-directors are the fastest path to anything registration related:

• Dianne Harbaugh, co-director. 305-522-4868
• Jenny Mason, co-director. 305-664-2628

Sailfish season is almost here. Get registered before October 31, get the room at Three Waters sorted, and I look forward to seeing you on the water in December.

Go Get’em.