The 4th Annual Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament was an absolute success! As we celebrate this four-year milestone, I am overwhelmed by the level of support we have received. This year’s success exceeded even our highest expectations, all thanks to the incredible enthusiasm of our participants, generous donors, valued sponsors, and devoted friends.

I am absolutely thrilled to share that, because of your collective generosity, the 4th Annual 2025 Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament has donated $40,000.00 to worthy causes this year. This brings our total contribution since the tournament began to an astounding $80,000.00!

Mission Fishin’

On Saturday, July 12, 2025, I met with key figures in the Mission Fishin’ community. This included RJ Boyle, a close friend of founder Tony Davis and an integral part of the organization’s founding. Cathy Warner, a friend of our organization and coach of the marathon Special Olympics children’s teams, was also present. The event brought together families served by Mission Fishin’ as well as members of the Marathon High School and Special Olympics teams.

I had the privilege of presenting Mission Fishin’ with a donation check for $35,000.00. Afterward, the families went out for a cost-free day of fishing on the Miss Islamorada head boat.

Captain Nick Stanzyk, a friend of the organization and a well-known captain in Islamorada, was also there supporting the cause, as he often does. He later uploaded a video to his social media channels and gave us a shoutout, which was great since he has such a big following online.

Stanley Switlik Elementary Fishing Club

One of my good friends, Chris Still, owns the local Tackle Box with his wife, Robyn. The Tackle Box is a great family-owned business, and the Still’s are very connected in the local community. Chris often volunteers his time at Stanley Switlik Elementary School, helping the school fishing club sponsor, Mr. Eller, with bait and tackle needs to keep the club running. In passing, I had mentioned to Chris that once the school year went into session, the tournament wanted to help the school club financially. 

A few months later, on August 4th, I received a text from Chris, asking if the tournament was still willing to help the Elementary fishing club. I said absolutely! Chris had just received a frantic phone call from Mr. Eller. The club’s bait freezer had broken, and he was distraught, not knowing where he would get the funding to replace it. The club doesn’t get much funding so he was even considering using his own personal funds.

I asked Chris to send me what the school needs so I can order it right away. Within an hour, we met up at Home Depot to pick up  and deliver the freezer to the school. Mr Eller was so appreciative and I explained the tournament wanted to help with the fishing club more. They came up with their wish list, and I allocated $5,000.00 of the funds we raised at this year’s tournament to support the club.

The fishing club is a great resource for all grade school students. Teachers sign up their classes for specific periods, allowing students to fish off the school’s observation dock. Mr. Eller is dedicated to teaching the kids essential skills like safe fish handling for release, fish identification, and even plans to incorporate stone crabbing when the season allows. He noted that many Keys children have surprisingly never fished before, making this club a vital way to get every student involved!

Marathon Middle High School

On August 29, 2025, I visited Marathon Middle High School to present a $20,000.00 check to the school on behalf of Mission Fishin’. Principal Christine Paul and Cathy Warner, an MHS teacher and coach for the Marathon Special Olympics team accepted the donation. This contribution came from the larger $35,000.00 donation I had given to Mission Fishin’ the month prior. Tony asked me to present the check in his place because of a previously scheduled engagement. The presentation was a great success, receiving enthusiastic applause and cheers from the student body.

The ceremony was also featured in our local Keys Weekly magazine.

Moving Forward

As we look to the future, our vision is to broaden our reach and deepen our impact on the community by helping wherever we can. We’re forging strong alliances with key partners like Mission Fishin’, our local schools, and other community-focused organizations to create even more opportunities for kids and their families.

The planning is already in full swing for our next event! Please mark your calendars for the 5th Annual Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament, set for April 17th & 18th, 2026. Our ambition is to build on our past success and see if we can make this our most impactful tournament yet. With the incredible community we have behind us, I am confident that anything is possible!

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to every person who made this year possible. Whether you were an angler on the water, a generous financial contributor, or a dedicated volunteer, you are the backbone of this event. Your commitment creates a powerful, positive change in our community, and we are immensely thankful for your support.

This tournament has always been about more than just fishing—it’s a testament to what we can accomplish when we unite for a common cause! I’m excited to see what we’ll achieve next year, and I’m genuinely grateful to everyone who helped turn this shared dream into reality. If you have any questions or would like to get involved visit our contact page and reach out for more information.