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The Sarasota Tarpon Tournament is one of the oldest fishing tournaments in the world.
Famous industrialist and radio magnate, Powel Crosley Jr. as a guest of Robert Ringling hooked his first tarpon while fishing in Sarasota. He was so impressed with the area and the sport of tarpon fishing that in 1929 he moved to Sarasota.
In 1930 Crosley was elected president of the new Sarasota County Anglers" Club and to gain national attention the tournament was carried on Crosley's Cincinnati radio station WLW and relayed via telephone lines to Ohio and affilate stations nationwide.
The Palmer family commissioned the sterling silver four foot Tarpon Trophy in the early 1930's. This trophy nows resides at the Sarasota History center.
In the 1990's the Sarasota Anglers Club united with the Sarasota Sportsfishing Club and now the Sarasota Anglers Sport Fishing Club now hosts the Annual Sarasota Tarpon Tournament and continues the fine tradition.
This tarpon tournament was one of the first tarpon tournaments to become an "all-release event.
A DNA study of tarpon by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute is conducted during this tournament for their Genetic Recapture Study.
2010 not only marks a milestone 80th year for the Sarasota Tarpon Tournament, it also celebrates the return of the "Tarpon Queen" after a 40+ year hiatus. This year's Ladies Day Division winner, Nicole Coudal, donned the sash and orginal tiara to represent the tournament in the Suncoast Offshore Parade of Boats down main street, Sarasota on July 1st. The parade is an annual event for Suncoast Charities for Children, this year's charitable recipent for the tournament for the tournament, and it was a great to be involved in such a special event.
Proceeds go to Suncoast Charties.

Local artist Brendan Coudal has again been chosen to design this year's tournament artwork, which will be used for shirts and other promotional material, with prints awarded to certain levels of winners in the tournament.

Local Weekly Winners

Celebrating 80 Years!

1930

2010

www.brendangallery.com

May 22-June 27, 2010
 Sarasota, Florida

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2010 Tarpon Queen
Nicole Coudal