Naples accountant wins fifth annual Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship

First time any angler has double slammed in tournament

By Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications

ISLAMORADA, Fla. (July 13, 2005) – Robert Collins, caught and released two tarpon, two permit and a single bonefish Wednesday, adding to earlier catches of reds and snook, to take grand champion honors with a record two slams at the three-day Rolex/International Game Fish Association Inshore Championship Tournament in the Florida Keys.
                 Collins, a Naples, Fla., accountant, was one of 34 anglers who participated in the fifth annual invitational event made up of tournament champions. Each entrant won at least one of 55 IGFA qualifying tournaments staged last year on four continents.

            “He’s an animal,” laughed Capt. Tim Hoover, Collin’s guide in the final round. “He was tenacious and on target in catching both tarpon and both permit and then his bonefish to score his double slam with reds and snook. It was an amazing day.”

            It was the first time Collins had ever been guided by Hoover, Marathon. In day one he was guided by Capt. Frank Ortiz, Key Largo; day two by Capt. Mike Makowsk, Key Largo.

            “This is my fifth year of qualifying in this prestigious tournament,” said Collins.  “The quality of the guides and competitors is unequalled to any other event or area of the world.”

            Chris Bullock, Hyannis, Mass., the day two leader who needed tarpon to complete his five species releases, fished with Capt. Dave Sutton, Homestead, and found hundreds of them near Cape Sable. 

            “No matter what we presented to them, they wouldn’t eat it and many had already gouged themselves on baitfish. It was heartbreaking,” said Sutton.

 Point values of fish were determined by species and the angler's choice of fly fishing, artificial lure or bait-casting preference. Contestants fished with a different guide each of the three days. The tournament came on the heels of Hurricane Dennis which unsettled the Florida Bay fish, guides said. 
                 "Among those involved in inshore fly and light-tackle fishing, the Rolex/IGFA event is considered the World Series or Super Bowl of saltwater fishing," said Mike Myatt, an IGFA executive. “
            Mark Travis, Marco Island., was runner-up grand champion with one slam. Cal Collier, Jr., Atlanta, Ga. won the release division and Jeff Ball, Naples was the runner-up. Collins, Travis, Collier and Ball all were presented with Rolex timepieces among a long list of other prizes.

Steve Ward, Coppell, Texas, won the fly division.

Jeff Bilekikian, Yarmouth, Mass., won the artificial division and fellow Cape Cod winner Chris Bullock, Hyannis, Mass., who lead day two finished second in the bait division to Collins. Day one leader Bob Rich, Jr., Buffalo, N.Y. finished third in the fly division.  Amy Bennett, Charleston, S.C. was the top woman angler finishing second in the artificial division.

The divisional champions -- first to third places -- in fly, spin and bait, plus the overall top three guides also received trophies and merchandise among the 16 tournament award categories presented.

The ICT is one of three world class series events that include the sixth annual Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship Tournament which was held in May in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  In that tournament over 70 winning teams of anglers representing tournaments in 31 countries competed releasing a record 517 billfish (striped marlin and sailfish) around the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula. Over 100 qualifying tournaments were held worldwide in 2004.  A tournament for youngsters is also among the trio in the third annual Mercury Outboards/IGFA Junior Angler Championship in Key West, Fla., July 17-19.

Rolex Watch U.S.A., respected world wide for producing the finest timepieces, became the title sponsor and exclusive timepiece of the ICT in 2000. Rolex is joined this year by platinum sponsors Chevrolet, Mercury Outboards and Hell’s Bay Boats. Other sponsors include Bacardi, Costa Del Mar, G. Loomis, Hook and Tackle, Image Graphics 2000, Islamorada Fish Co., Island Glass, Islander Resort, James Harris Fine Arts, Hewlett Photography, KD & G Sea Life Masterpieces, King Sailfish Mounts, Rapala, Redbone Gallery, Robert James Sales, Inc., Shimano, Stiffy Push Poles, 3M Scientific Anglers and World Wide Sportsman. 

            James Harris of Delray Beach, Fla., is the official artist of the ICT for the fifth straight year.

              For further information, contact Denise Hartman at the International Game Fish Association, 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, Florida 33004   Email: dhartman@igfa.org, Phone (954) 927-2628 Fax (954) 924-4299.

Founded in 1939, the IGFA is a not for profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping. IGFA members are located in over 125 countries and territories.  The IGFA welcomes visitors to its 60,000-sq.ft .interactive Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum headquartered in Dania Beach, Fla.

The IGFA web site can be found at www.igfa.org.

Fifth Annual Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship Tournament

July 10-13, 2005, Islamorada, Fla.

Grand Champion (based on slams of permit, bonefish, tarpon, snook and redfish released) Robert Collins, Naples, Fla., 1325 pts. (two slams)

Runner-up Grand Champion  

Mark Travis, Marco Island, Fla., 575 pts. (one slam)

Overall Release Champion (based on total points):

Cal Collier, Jr. Atlanta, Ga., 1100 pts.

Runner-up Release Champion   

Jeff Ball, Naples, Fla., 1000 pts.

Fly Division:

1. Steve Ward, Coppell, Texas 825 pts.

2. Cal Collier, Jr. Atlanta, Ga. 700 pts.

3. Bob Rich, Buffalo, N.Y. 500 pts.

Artificial Division

1.  Jeff Bilezikian, Yarmouth, Mass., 700 pts.

2.  Amy Bennett, Charleston, S.C. 600 pts. (based on time)

3.  Jim Trice, Islamorada, Fla., 600 pts.

Bait Division

1. Robert Collins, Naples, Fla., 825 pts.

2. Chris Bullock, Hyannis, Mass., 725 pts.

3. Jeff Ball, Naples, Fla., 700 pts.

Overall top three guides:  

1.  Capt. Steve Thomas, Islamorada, Fla., 1125 pts. (based on time)

2.  Capt. Larry Sydnor, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 1125 pts.

3.  Capt. Rich Tudor, Islamorada, Fla., 1075 pts.

Top 20 -- Final overall points standings (also based on time)

 1)   Robert Collins, Naples, Fla., 1325 pts.—(Herman Lucerne Memorial Backcountry)

 2)   Cal Collier, Jr., Atlanta, Ga., -1100 pts.—(Mercury Redbone@Large Deep Water Cay) 

 3)   Jeff Ball, Naples, Fla., 1000 pts. (Gene Doyle Memorial Tournament)

 4)   Chris Gutierrez, Cooper City, Fla., 975 pts. (Islamorada Fishing Club “RedGhost Stalk”)

 5)   Jeff Bilezikian, Yarmouth, Mass., 850 pts. (Mercury Redbone@Large Nantucket Slam)

 6)   Steve Ward, Coppell, Texas,   825 pts.(Rio Negro, Brazil Peacock Bass Fly Tournament)

 7)   Chris Bullock, Hyannis, Mass., 825 pts. (Hyannis Anglers Club Bass & Bluefish Tournament)

 8)   Amy Bennett, Charleston, S.C., 800 pts. (Mercury Redbone@Large LowCountry Red*Trout)

 9)   Jim Trice, Islamorada, Fla., 800 pts. (Mercury Bonefishing World Championship)

10)  Sharon Ellenwood, Islamorada, Fla., 750 pts. (Mercury Baybone Celebrity Tournament)

11)  Jim Bokor, Tavernier, Fla., 750 pts. (Mercury/Cheeca Redbone)

12)  Dianne Gray, Naples, Fla., 700 pts. Gene Doyle Memorial Tournament)

13)  John Vratsenes, Manchester, N.H. 650 pts. (Wentworth Marina Striped Bass Tournament)

14)  Robert Webster, Lithia, Fla., 600 pts. (Chuck LaMar’s Mercury Grand Slam)

15)  Betsy Bullard, Melbourne, Fla., 600 pts. (I.W.F.A. Islamorada Light Tackle Tournament)

16)  Mark Travis, Marco Island, Fla., 575 pts. (YMCA Gulf Coast Redsnook Charity Tournament)  

17)  Bob Rich, Jr. Buffalo, N.Y./Islamorada, Fla., 500 pts. (Mercury Redbone@Large Savannah)

18)  Brian Berger, San Francisco, Calif., 475 pts. (Jacks or Better Fly-Zihauatanejo, Mexico)

19)  Paul Wingrove, Tavernier, Fla., 450 pts. (Islamorada All-Tackle Spring Bonefish Tournament)

20)  Skip Lyshon, Ft. Pierce, Fla., 400 pts. (YMCA Gulf Coast Redsnook Charity Tournament)

20)  Gary Parsons, Naples, Fla.,  400 pts. (YMCA Gulf Coast Redsnook Charity Tournament)

20)  Dave Robinson, Sarasota, Fla., 400 pts. (Snook Foundation Shindig Tournament)

20)  Bill Hurst, Miami, Fla., 400 pts. (Mercury SLAM Celebrity Tournament)

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