Itchin' to go Fishin'?

It may be getting cold in many parts of the country, but the Florida Keys is heating up on the fishing front. And to prove it, the 45th-Annual Islamorada Sailfish Tournament will take place next month. So before you pick up that snow shovel, maybe you should pick up a plane ticket and head to the sportfishing capital of the world for a little kite-flying, fish-flying action.

The 45th-Annual Islamorada Sailfish Tournament will kick-off on December 4. Fishing takes place December 5-7. The Islamorada Sailfish Tournament is a light-tackle tournament using 12-pound test line.

Entry fee for the first angler is $600.00 and $500.00 for each additional angler. Junior anglers under the age of 16 can enter for $200.00. All winning anglers and winning crews receive a trophy. The tournament also has trophies for Most Outstanding Catch other than a sailfish, largest tuna, king mackerel and dolphin.

The Whale Harbor Inn and Marina will host the event. Whether you are a seasoned angler or just wish to hook a billfish for thrill of a lifetime, the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament is a great way to do so. The gala awards dinner on Sunday night at Whale Harbor's new Braza Lena Brazilian Steak House culminates with trophies and prizes for the tournament winners.

The Islamorada Sailfish Tournament is the first leg of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship. The The Gold Cup series includes the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament and the Islamorada Fishing Clubs Sailfish Tournament. The Gold Cup Series has a limited entry of 30 boats. Space is still available for the Gold Cup Series. Check out all the information under Florida Keys Gold Cup at www.islamoradasailfishtournament.com.

The Amazing Dolphin Trick

We all knew dolphins are playful, but blowing bubbles? And then turning those bubbles into spinning rings? See the footage below:


And here's an explanation someone sent, "these silver rings...are 'air-core vortex rings'. Invisible, spinning vortices in the water are generated from the tip of a dolphin's dorsal fin when it is moving rapidly and turning. When dolphins break the line, the ends are drawn together into a closed ring. The higher velocity fluid around the core of the vortex is at a lower pressure than the fluid circulating farther away. Air is injected into the rings via bubbles released from the dolphin's blowhole. The energy of the water vortex is enough to keep the bubbles from rising for a reasonably few seconds of play time."

She's Baaack! (And Open.)

For those of you who'll be in or around the Big Apple this weekend, here's something to consider: Tomorrow, after an extensive two-year renovation, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum will reopen its doors to visitors. According to the the museum's Web site, the new and improved facility will include interactive exhibits, restored aircraft, dry-docking, a paint job for the former USS Intrepid, and more. Plus, the first 1,000 visitors will get a coin commemorating the ship's return. The museum opens just in time for Veterans Day (Tuesday, November 11th) when it will host a ceremony that's slated to be attended by President George W. Bush, New York Governor David Paterson, and some 2,500 veterans.

Bid On A Boat

For those boaters with some cash to spare and buying a boat on their mind, there may never be a better time to find the vessel of your dreams. And there are many ways to do so: brokers are offering great incentives to purchase late-model inventory and used boats are everywhere.

But there is another place to find great boat deals, too : www.yachtauctions.com. This Web site is dedicated to selling boats via bid. The vessels for sale are acquired through repossession, salvage, and some are brokerage product.

The inventory list is updated every week, with bidding ending every Monday. Just visit the site and you can bid on anything from the 23-foot Gray White and 39-foot Topaz pictured here to the 515-foot passenger ship as well. Happy boat shopping.

Allied Marine

Ferretti Yachts recently procured an esteemed boat dealer, Allied Richard Bertram Marine Group, an acquisition which will enable the Italian yacht company to sell directly to U.S. buyers.

The recently established company, Allied Marine, intends to sell American-made Tiara yachts in addition to Ferretti's nine lines of luxury yachts.

Previously, MarineMax was Ferretti's sole U.S. dealer, and as the country's largest boat dealer, it provided stability in a declining economy. Ferretti's contract with MarineMax expired this year, ­they chose to not renew.

MarineMax's general manager, Bob Fritsky, stated that it will direct more focus towards selling luxury yachts from another reputable Italian builder, Azimut.

The new president of Allied Marine, Rob McDougal, recognizes that it is an arduous time to become a dealer, but is ultimately optimistic and enthused about "providing a higher level of service and being closer to the customer."