2nd Annual Spanish Fly Shark Tournament Recap!

April 3–5, 2025 | Key West, Florida
Benefiting the Jose Wejebe Spanish Fly Memorial Foundation

With one year under our belt, we came into the 2nd Annual Spanish Fly Shark Tournament with a little more confidence—and a powerful new ally: Outdoor America. Their media team flew in to film the tournament and joined us on the water, not just to capture the event, but also for a special side project… a reboot of Spanish Fly. (More on that soon.)

We saw growth in every direction—more teams, more sponsors, and more energy. We kicked things off with our Captains Meeting at the Key West Yacht Club on Thursday, April 3rd. Spirits were high, despite a tough forecast: 20–25 knot winds for both fishing days. Mother Nature didn’t make it easy, but the camaraderie and love for Jose were as strong as ever.

For me personally, this year was extra special—I finally got to fish. As a mom of two young boys, and someone who usually runs the backend of our events, being on the boat was a rare gift. But thanks to Outdoor America VP Jamie Wilkinson (who wanted me fishing with him), support from our board, and an amazing volunteer crew—including Mike Dymond (tech), Kenny Harris (shark ID), and our president Joe Trip (rules)—I got the green light.

Fishing with Captain Gabe Nyblad and Jamie was an honor. Jamie had worked closely with my dad during the ESPN2 era of Spanish Fly, the Redbone Celebrity Tournaments, and the 2011 ESPN Outdoor Saltwater Series. Their last project together wasn’t meant to be the end—Jamie’s here to help carry the torch forward.

Across two tough, windblown days, our tournament anglers gave it their all. Boats fished both inshore and offshore divisions, battling conditions and searching for qualifying shark species. The flats lit up with lemon sharks, blacktips, and even a hammerhead or two—but bull sharks? Almost nonexistent. (We learned that pressure systems can drive them deep and change their feeding behavior. Who knew?) Offshore anglers showed sharp shark ID skills—because, yes, there is a difference between a sandbar shark and a bull!

While our boat caught fish, none were eligible for scoring. But others brought it home:
🏆 Inshore Division – Team Rocketman with Captain Steve Hancock
🏆 Offshore Division – Team Nothing Better Rentals with Captain Mitch Mitchell

We closed out the weekend with a heartfelt awards dinner at the Key West Yacht Club, complete with dinner, prizes, and powerful stories. Four of our past recipients—Jenn, Tosha, Amanda, and Cindy—joined us for a well-deserved ladies’ getaway and spoke at the event. Their strength and connection brought the room to tears. Their stories remind us why we do what we do.

From a mom fighting cancer while pregnant, to a mother and son both battling the disease—each of these women shared what their trip with the Foundation meant to them and their families. And just like that, our mission was reinforced tenfold.

A heartwarming highlight? My son AJ took the mic to thank everyone for helping make fishing dreams come true. This has started to be his “thing” to do at “Mommy’s Partys”, and it makes my heart smile. Safe to say, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

A huge thank you to our sponsors—especially Professional Marine, who increased their support this year, and The Buzza Foundation, who joined the tournament family. We’re excited to build on this momentum as we prepare for 2026 with new scoring updates and even more opportunities to make a difference.

This tournament is more than just fishing. It’s legacy, connection, and healing on the water.
See you next year.