The Winner’s cIRCLE: inside fly fishing’s elite tarpon events
Photo Courtesy of The Gold Cup Tournament.
Fly fishing tarpon tournaments like the Gold Cup, Golden Fly, and Don Hawley make up the unofficial “triple crown” of competitive saltwater fly fishing in the Florida Keys. Held during peak migration these tournaments are steeped in history, with past winners including some of the most respected names in the sport such as Stu Apte, Billy Knowles, and Andy Mill. Since 1977, the Ladies Fly tournament has also been a significant part of this legacy, showcasing top female anglers and contributing to the vibrant community of fly fishing enthusiasts.
2025 Herman Lucerne Memorial Tarpon Cup
The Gold Cup, founded in 1964 in-part by baseball legend & avid angler Ted Williams, is the longest-running and most prestigious. It’s a five-day, invitation-only event where anglers target large tarpon on fly. Anglers are typically rewarded for both weight & numbers . Five weight fish (70 pounds minimum) can be measured for “weight” points with 10 points awarded per pound. Tarpon that are less than 70 pounds but are least 4 feet long can count as releases and are worth 300 points each. In other tournaments like the Don Hawley, points are earned by the number of tarpon, either “ caught” or “ released”. In this case, a “ released” fish is one where the angler or guide is able to touch the leader. A “caught” fish is essentially a more controlled and complete catch — the hook is removed or the fly is retrieved from the fish.
Tournaments are scored using class tippet (usually 16- or 20-pound), and anglers must follow IGFA standards, which adds another layer of difficulty. The class tippet is the middle section of a fly leader—between the butt section and the shock tippet (bite tippet)—and is made of a uniform material with a specified pound-test strength. It is the weakest link in the system and is what the fish is officially "caught" on, according to IGFA rules.
“In tournament fishing Speed is the name of the game. The less time you spend running, the more time you’ll spend fishing.”
In the modern era, these events are less about luck and more about execution under pressure. Success hinges on the relationship between angler and guide—Knowing where to find the fish, setting up the shot, and managing each fight precisely until that tarpon is boat side for a leader grab or a quick measurement. And it’s these scoring systems, developed over time, that have helped shape much of today’s best practice in tarpon conservation and fly fishing techniques.
Chittum emerged into this modern era of flats fishing with a clear purpose: to build the most technically advanced skiffs on the water—boats that could outperform every other skiff in the category. As tarpon tournaments evolved into high-stakes, high-speed pursuits, speed, efficiency, and fishability became non-negotiable. Our founder Hal recognized this shift and responded with groundbreaking hull designs, unmatched ride quality, and materials that maximize performance without compromise. In a world where the difference between first and forgotten can come down to minutes, we believe we have built the world’s finest tournament skiff. With with 8 of the top 10 placing teams in the 2025 HLC Tarpon Cup running a Chittum, we’re more confidant than ever in what we’re doing and we look forward to supporting more guides and anglers on their way to the winner’s circle.
