Star Island Yacht Club Hosts 25th Annual Shark Tournament

June 1, 2011 - PRLog -- Montauk, NY — The 25th Annual Shark Tournament will take place June 17-18 at Star Island Yacht Club. The tournament will be held from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 17 and from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 18. The Captain’s Meeting will take place June 16 at 7:30 p.m.

In 2010, more than $525,000 in cash and prizes were paid out. Cash prizes will be awarded for the heaviest shark in the tournament and the heaviest shark for each day. The top three prizes will also be awarded for the heaviest mako, heaviest blue shark and heaviest shark of another species.

In addition to this outstanding competition, all sportsmen can contribute to the study of the shark by tagging and releasing sharks that did not meet strict weight requirements. Last year, more than 340 sharks were released back into the ocean. Of the sharks that were weighed in, more than 750 pounds of edible shark meat was donated to the Long Island Council of Churches food pantry to help feed those in need.

Last year, Jim Hughes aboard Captain Mike DeSimone’s “Afishionado” caught the heaviest shark of the tournament, weighing in at 335 pounds. The heaviest mako (241 lbs.) was caught by Keith Brandner aboard Captain Greg Brandner’s “Carol Libby.”

Entry fee is $800 per boat. For sports fishermen who would like to get in on the competition but do not own a boat, the Star Island Yacht Club Charter Boat fishing fleet is available for hire for either one day or both days of the tournament.

Dockage is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Transient rates for the tournament are $5.50 per foot plus $25.00 for utilities (water, electric and cable TV) per day, payable in advance.

To make your reservation, or for more information, call (631) 668-5052, or visit www.starislandyc.com.