September 23, 2004 ...........Go Back
Swamp Guides Ball Tournament Profile
The Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association (FKFGA) will be presenting our 15th Annual Swamp Guides Ball on Saturday, January 29, 2005, with the kick-off and silent auction on Friday, January 28th at the Lor-e-lei Restaurant & Marina.
The event was started by the Florida Keys Fishing Guides in 1990 to help support the Don Hawley Foundation, a 501(c)3. The Don Hawley was established over 20 years ago when Mr. Hawley donated $5,000 to start a foundation that helped backcountry guides during times of need. The $5,000 was used to pave the way for the Hawley Foundation to assist guides that are unable to work due to serious surgery, cancer or other illnesses that prevent them from working and supporting their families.
The Don Hawley now helps several guides each year with the typical assistance check being $5,000. Often times this helps pay mortgage payments, utilities or for expensive prescriptions while the guide gets back on their feet. Sandy Moret is Chairman of the Board. Current board members include Andy Mill, Mindy Rich, Michael Swerdlow, Jim Trice, Bert Scherb, Capt. Tad Burke, Thorpe McKenzie and Carl Navarre, Jr.
The Swamp Guides Ball has now become one of the largest and most popular one day fishing tournaments in the Florida Keys. Typically, there are 180 anglers fishing from 90 boats in this team event. The targeted species are bonefish, snook and redfish, with point priority going to the team that catches at least one of each species. The silent auction the night before the tournament has become a significant get- together for the fishing community in the Upper Keys. Approximately 800 people attend the silent auction to help the cause.
The tournament has averaged $10,000 in net proceeds each year until 2002. Since that time, proceeds have exceeded $20,000 each year. All of the proceeds have been donated to the Don Hawley Foundation with the exception of $1,000 that was donated to the Florida Keys Bird Shelter in 2001. Last year, the tournament broke all records and was able to present the Don Hawley Foundation with a $25,000 gift. This was made possible due to the many friends and supporters of the Swamp Guides Ball, including our major sponsors, Caribee Boats, Mercury Marine, Rich Foods, Dell Corporation, Ranger Boats, Redbone, Inc., Hells Bay Boatworks, The Red Bone, Yamaha, Mangrove Mike's and the Lor-e-lei.
What makes this event unique is the fact that most of the teams are guides fishing with each other. The Swamp Guides Ball is called by some as the "Guides Tournament" because they so seldom get to fish with and compete against each other. Because so many guides fish or guide in the event, our sponsors receive significant attention from people who buy and help sell their products. Sponsors are given significant attention in local newspapers and on five local radio-fishing shows. Sponsor's donations are show cased during the silent auction at the Lor-e-lei.
For more information, please call Jim Trice, Tournament Co-Director at (305) 664-3864 or email at trice_j@bellsouth.net.