Participating WBS anglers competing in the Silver Sailfish Derby can earn points towards a final WBS USDC-SE ranking and qualify for the WBS Grand Championship for 1999. One of the country's oldest fishing events, the Silver Sailfish Derby was launched by the West Palm Beach Fishing Club in January 1935 to help support the local charter boat fleet and to promote the fabulous sailfishing off Palm Beach. At one time, famous American author Ernest Hemingway was a tournament trophy sponsor. The derby is also credited as being one of the first sailfish tournaments to promote the practice of catch and release. Thankfully, this concept is now practiced by nearly all sailfish tournaments today.
Few tournaments have such an historical past.
There should be a good bite this year at the tournament. Last year's bite was great and the tournament went down to the wire. Since each sailfish release has to be radioed to the Derby score keeper there are very few secrets. It often leads to an exciting event. Twenty-eight boats released a total of 181 sailfish during the 1998 event.