TIGHT FINISH IN HISTORIC DERBY

The Silver Sailfish Derby was established by the West Palm Beach Fishing Club in January 1935, and while it’s structured a bit differently today, it’s the oldest sailfish tournament in the world, missing only a brief two-year period during World War II. Today, the venerable West Palm Beach Fishing Club continues to host the Derby, which represents an important part of the club’s identity, as well as that of the local sport-fishing community.

This year’s event celebrated its 85th year in early January with a sold-out fleet of 50 boats. It’s apparent that this crown jewel of the sport not only remains special, but that it also seems to be improving with age. The nostalgia surrounding the event continues to captivate some of the finest anglers, captains and crews; as soon as the 8 a.m. call for lines in sounds over the VHF, the baits hit the