2nd Annual Flying Mako Charity Fly Fishing Tournament

Tournament Banner (click image for detail)

Bowman Bluewater and Ichthyo-Sys® fishing products are pleased to announce the second annual Flying Mako™ catch and release fly fishing tournament to be held in San Diego, California on August 5 - 6, 2010. The message and purpose of the tournament is sustainability, conservation and sound management of mako sharks and other apex predators.  Based on the success of the inaugural tournament held in 2009, the tournament organizers are expanding the event to two days and increasing the number of teams that can participate.  Proceeds from this unique charitable event will continue to support scientific research on shortfin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus or "sharp nose"). The Pacific Ocean off of Southern California is known as the Southern California bight and is a nursery for the juvenile mako sharks.  These juvenile fish typically range in size from10 to 250 lbs with 50 to 100 lbs fish the most frequently encountered size.  Mako sharks are one of the top gamefish found on this planet and as a shark they elicit a natural curiosity and instinctual response from people.  Mako sharks are world renowned for their aggressiveness and aerial displays when hooked. The waters off of San Diego provide a unique opportunity to fly fish for these incredible game fish.  Mako sharks are highly visible when enticed within casting range, readily take flies near the surface, and provide great photo and video opportunities both in and out of the water during their frequent aerial displays!

 

Tournament Objectives: 

 

Promote the sport of catch and release fly fishing for mako sharks; Increase scientific information and public awareness of mako sharks & other apex predators through the purchase and tagging of adult mako sharks with passive satellite tags; and Develop new friends and relationships to further the above objectives.  

Proceeds in excess of costs to run the tournament will principally be donated to the Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (www.pier.org) a 501(c)(3) charity.

 

The entry fee for teams to participate in this year’s 2-day event is $1,000 per team.  The entry fee includes the Captain’s reception at the end of the first days fishing and the Tournament reception and charity auction the last day of fishing.  Teams are expected to contact prospective Captains to book them separate from the entry fee.  Team scores from the first day of fishing will be announced during the Captain’s reception and the final scores of all teams and prizes handed to the top three teams will be awarded at the Tournament Reception and Awards Banquet immediately following the fishing on Friday, August 6, 2010. Winners will receive awards and have their names engraved on a plaque on the perpetual Flying Mako™ tournament trophy housed at the San Diego Fly Shop (www.sandiegoflyshop.com).

 

Teams are expected to sign in at the tournament suite at the Dana Inn between 5 and 8 PM, Wednesday, August 4, 2010.  The teams will reconvene at 6 AM Thursday morning, August 5, 2010 at the Dana Landing Market to go over the rules and the days events.  A shotgun start will occur at 7 AM at the mouth of the Mission Bay jetty on both days.  Conway Bowman will initiate each days fishing via a shot-gun start at 7 AM at the mouth of the Mission Bay jetty. The Tournament Committee will auction donated items, announce the winning team, give out awards, and thank the participants and sponsors of the event at the Tournament Reception and Awards Banquet. 

 

July and August are the prime months to catch mako sharks on a fly.  In addition to great fishing in September, people out on the water will frequently see blue whales, free-swimming marlin, Ocean sunfish (mola mola), hammerhead sharks, and pods of Pacific white-sided dolphins frequently breeze by boats.  The setting is also great for a relaxed mid-summer family vacation as Mission Bay is located next to Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal park and Disneyland is about an hour north. 

 

The Flying Mako™ charity fly fishing tournament will enforce a strict catch and release policy for all sharks hooked and fought to the boat.  All fish hooked, fought, and brought to the boat will have the fly removed by the captain wiring the leader and then using a long release stick to remove the barbless hook.  For obvious reasons, participants are not allowed to lift sharks out of the water!!  This years’ tournament will have a volunteer observer on each boat to record each fish caught.

 

Final accounting of all receipts and expenditures will be provided to sponsors and tournament participants.  Sponsors will be noted on all correspondence, websites, and press releases pertaining to event.

 

Lodging:  A block of rooms has been reserved at the Dana Inn for the tournament.  When making reservations, please tell the reservation clerk that you are booking for the Bowman Bluewater Tournament.  You notifying the Dana Inn that you are booking to participate in the tournament help save on costs for producing the tournament, thus, yielding more money for mako shark research.

 

Interested teams should sign up early as slots and potential guides knowledgeable in finding and catching mako sharks out of Mission Bay, California are limited for this event.  The deadline for signing up will be May 31, 2010.  Interested teams should contact Conway Bowman at (619-822-MAKO) or Bob Deibel at (970-420-1660) or go to www.bowmanbluewater.com or www.ichthyosys.com to obtain additional information on tournament logistics, lodging, download the rules or to sign up for the tournament.  Persons or companies interested in participating and sponsoring this unique event should contact Conway Bowman or Bob Deibel.