Barry Shevlin and Robert Collins won top honors in light tackle and fly tackle divisions Thursday at the Florida Keys Outfitters/International Game Fish Association Inshore World Championship in the Florida Keys.
Guided by Islamorada’s Frank Ortiz, Shevlin, a Bay Harobor Islands, Fla., resident, came within one tarpon of scoring two slams, catching and releasing each of the five eligible species twice: bonefish, tarpon, permit, redfish and snook.
Catching all five species is known as a “slam.”
”I figured if I could get two slams I would have a good shot at winning,” said Shevlin. “What was really helpful was a guide who is multitalented with each species of fish, and who has immense local knowledge.”
Collins, an Islamorada resident, fished with Captain John Donnell of Islamorada and landed one bonefish and three redfish for his victory.
Jake Turek, guided by Dave Denkert, placed second in the light tackle division. Both men are from Islamorada. Brower Moffitt of Palm Beach, Fla., with Islamorada captain Mike Ehlers, garnered second in the fly division.
Twenty-three anglers received invitations to this year’s championship by winning at least one of 40 qualifying angling events during 2009 in the United States, Bahamas, Belize, Australia, Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden.By: Andy Newman/Carol Shaughnessy
