Mark Wolaver, second from left, with his Grand Champion trophy from the 1st annual Backcountry Fly Championship in Islamorada.

It was a tournament for fly fishermen only; no live-bait chunkers, no plug-throwers, no soft-plastic slingers. Twenty-five anglers competed in the first-ever Backcountry Fly Championship out of Islamorada in late February. The competitors of the inaugural tournament were to catch as many inches of snook and redfish on fly as possible. Only two of each species over the two-day tournament counted toward the total inches of fish.

Mark Wolaver of Ft. Pierce, fishing with guide Capt. Chris Jones of Islamorada, took home the championship with 113.75 total inches of fish. Wolaver’s redfish were 32.5 and 32.25 inches, and his snook were 27.5 and 21.5 inches. Wolaver did not catch the biggest snook or redfish of the tournament, but consistency won him title of grand champion angler. His captain, Chris Jones was named the tournament’s grand champion guide.

Tim Mahaffey of Miami, Fla. measured in a close second with 112.8 inches of fish. Mahaffey fished with Capt. Eric Herstedt of Coral Springs. Anglers on 25 boats caught 33 snook and 25 redfish throughout the two days. Longest snook went to Alex Cruz of Miami, with a fish that measured 34.75 inches. The largest redfish, a 32.6-incher, was caught by Frank Juliano of Fort Lauderdale.

For more information, or to be a part of the tourney next year, contact Charlotte Ambrogio at (305) 664-2444.