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 catch and release. Thankfully, this concept is now practiced by nearly all sailfish tournaments today.
Few tournaments have such a storied past.
The clubhouse is located at 201 5th Street, on the corner of North Flagler Drive and 5th Street in downtown West Palm Beach. Tournament entry fee includes boat registration, one official Silver Sailfish Derby burgee, club decal, tournament log book and boat kit full of goodies. The Sailfish Marina on Singer Island will serve as tournament headquarters for the event. Since each sailfish release has to be radioed to the Derby score keeper there are very few secrets. Thirty-seven boats set free a total of 150 sailfish during the 1999 event.