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Fly fishing for Atlantic sailfish has never been commonly practiced in the Florida Keys until now. The technique involves slow trolling with live baits with no hooks in order to raise the sailfish. Once the fish is raised it is teased close to the boat. The Captain must then shift to neutral as the angler cast, trolling is not acceptable within the rules of IGFA fly fishing. At that moment the mate who is “teasing” snatches the hookless bait from the water and simultaneously the fly angler casts the fly to the fish. If teamwork, timing, and coordination come together, a hookup results!
TWO DAYS.
TWENTY TEAMS.
ONE GRAND CHAMPION.
Schedule of Events
The Islamorada SailFly kicks off with a welcome party and check-in at Islamorada Brewery & Distillery, where anglers, captains, and sponsors gather to set the stage for the competition. Two full fishing days follow, with lines in at 8:00 a.m. and lines out at 4:00 p.m., as teams chase sailfish on fly in the heart of the Florida Keys. Each day wraps up with score sheets submitted by 6:00 p.m. The tournament concludes with a celebratory awards banquet at the Islamorada Fishing Club, where we honor the champions and toast another year of world-class fishing.
Sponsored By
JANUARY 5th - Kick Off
6:00 p.m. • Islamorada Brewery & Distillery • Check-in, cocktails & briefing
JANUARY 6th - Day 1
8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. • Fishing • Score sheets due by 6:00 p.m.
JANUARY 7th - Day 2 & Awards
8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. • Fishing • Score sheets due by 6:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m. • Islamorada Fishing Club • Awards Banquet
2026 CHAMPIONS
Another chapter in SailFly history! The 26th Annual Islamorada SailFly brought together an incredible fleet for two days of competitive sailfish-on-fly action in the Florida Keys. Team Kalex, captained by Alex Adler with mates Justin and Hunter and anglers Michael D. and Jon M., claimed the Grand Champion title for the second consecutive year. This year's win was especially impressive with a new team aboard Kalex — including Michael D., who was fishing for sailfish on fly for the very first time. Michael went on to claim Top Angler honors, making his first SailFly one to remember. Congratulations to Kalex and the entire fleet for another unforgettable year of competition, camaraderie, and SailFly history!
Grand Champion - Kalex
Capt Alex Adler
Reserve Champion - Sweetwater
Michael D. & Jon M w/ Capt. Alex & Mates Justin & Hunter
Top Angler - Kaxle
Michael Dettelbach