BACKCOUNTRY FISHING TOURNAMENT SUPPORTS CAT POPULATION

A preferred, one-day backcountry fishing match in Islamorada is again for its twenty fourth 12 months, with funds supporting a number of causes close to and pricey to organizer Sharon Mahoney.  

Mahoney’s Casting for Cats match started in 2001 as a fundraiser to assist the feral cat inhabitants within the Higher Keys. As soon as for women solely, the match has since opened to male anglers, offering everybody with a enjoyable day within the backcountry all whereas serving to needy animals and the Shriners, of which Mahoney’s father was a member. 

Since its inception, Casting for Cats has helped 8,000 cats get spay and neutering providers in collaboration with different organizations like Whiskers and Paws Endlessly of Monroe County. And roughly 3,000 cats have discovered new properties.

Mahoney mentioned she remembers a time wherein she’d see useless cats on the aspect of the highway as she drove from her Plantation Key residence to her Enchanted Forest enterprise on Higher Matecumbe Key.

“You actually don’t see cats such as you used to on the aspect of the freeway, crossing the highway or by Dumpsters,” Mahoney mentioned. “I do know we’ve made a distinction. I’m working with the Higher Keys Humane Society to assist fund their spay and neuter clinics. I work year-round on it.”

A kickoff occasion and sign-in is about for Friday, Oct. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. on the Islander Resort, positioned at MM 82.1, oceanside, in Islamorada. Final-minute registration will go from 6 to 7:45 p.m., and a evaluation of the principles will happen at 7:15 p.m. Anglers can compete in bait, synthetic and fly divisions. 

Strains will enter the water at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, with strains out at 3:30 p.m. 

An awards dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Again by widespread demand is the litter field dig, the place anybody from the general public can dig for $5 and discover cash for prizes. 

“There’s a night-stay in Key West that somebody’s going to win,”Mahoney mentioned. 

Added to the intrigue of this 12 months’s Casting for Cats match is the prospect to win a Dragonfly Boatworks skiff. Groups composed of two anglers, both two ladies or a person and a lady, should each efficiently reel in a allow, tarpon, bonefish, snook, redfish and catfish. Mahoney mentioned the boat will probably be on show on the Islander Resort all through the match. 

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“It’s not straightforward to do however it’s not unattainable,” Mahoney mentioned. “It’s a hole-in-one golf match sort factor.”

In the course of the match, pop-up tents at Lorelei will characteristic merchandise from Casting for Cats, and Dolphin Life, the brand new marine mammal hospital at Islamorada. 

Along with Casting for Cats, Mahoney organizes the annual Poor Ladies Sailfish match, set for Feb. 3-4, 2026. Like Casting for Cats, all proceeds assist the animals and Shriners. 

“We’re so proud to be partnered with so many fantastic sponsors and neighborhood assist. Casting For Cats has been in a position to buy a brand new top-of-the-line X-ray machine, hundreds of {dollars} in cages and now has aided within the buy of a brand new ultrasound machine. It’s due to the assist of the neighborhood and so many giving individuals this is ready to occur,” Mahoney mentioned.

These wishing to volunteer or needing extra info can go to castingforcats.org or contact Mahoney at 305-664-2012 or 305-304-5262.