News Archive

Dear Members,

Welcome Home Snowbirds! Construction is moving along on our new club house. We had a issue with the roof trusses and the mechanical pit, but that is behind us now.

The windows and doors have arrived at the installers warehouse and are going to be installed after the roof is on. We should be dried in this month The entire second floor is framed in, plumbers and electricians are doing their work and the A/C ducts are being installed as well.

I am hoping to see more of everyone this season as we missed a lot of you last season. Stop by for dinner, have a drink and an appetizer at the bar, just come and say hello.

Our Lifetime membership category is still available for those who wish to continue their legacy and pass down the traditions and history of our great club to their children or grand children.

The Holidays are right around the corner! We will be open this Thanksgiving with a bounty of delectable offerings from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Please call us for a reservation.

Don’t forget The Islamorada Fishing Club for your holiday party Please contact us to reserve your date and time for your family or company event.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club
 

Dear Members,

It's hard to believe we have already been at our temporary location for one year.
We started with some interesting ideas this summer: Tuesday Trivia Night, Wednesday Italian Night, Thursday Shrimp Fest, and Saturday afternoon football. We hope to keep it exciting all year.

Construction is moving along, with plumbing, electric, A/C duct work, and interior framing on the second level. Roof trusses are being engineered, and windows and doors have been ordered.

We are looking forward to your return & hoping to see a lot more of all our members at,
"Your Club, The Islamorada Fishing Club".

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Our annual closing date, September 21st, is fast approaching; we will reopen for Dinner on Tuesday, October 8th.

Although our staff will be on vacation, I will be available some days during the week. I will monitor the progress of construction at the New Building and will try to keep you updated.

Thank you to everyone for your support during our “Special Event Nights.” They are a huge success, and we look forward to continuing them when our Snowbirds return.

We are also planning some intimate dinners for all members interested in sponsorship and naming right opportunities.

The kitchen, bathrooms, and dining room on the second floor have begun framing, and they look great!

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Presidential Update
September 2024

Summer has been a little slower than normal at IFC, but it has given us some opportunities to try out a few dinner theme nights and trivia nights. Italian night has been a consistent hit and continues to bring in a respectable crowd on Wednesday nights. If you have not been in for Italian night, you are really missing some creative and delicious Italian fare options, which you can only find at IFC. Shrimp Fest, created by Vinnie and Chef Dave, has also been a hit, with many preparations that are sure to impress. I highly recommend that you make a point to visit the Club on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Our regular menu is still available on theme nights for those who are in the mood for our classics. Vinnie and Chef Dave are working on a revised menu for the season, and from what I have been told, we will have the old favorites and some great new choices that will keep the menu fresh.

We have been hosting Trivia Night with Randall (Be the Show) for the past several weeks on Tuesday nights. Trivia evenings started at 5:30 and ended around 6:30-7 PM in time for dinner reservations after. Each night, Vinnie and the team had special appetizers and happy hour during the games. The winning team of each round won a $20 gift certificate for IFC, and the overall winning team received a $40 gift certificate to use at the Club. In between rounds, random names were drawn for IFC swag. We will continue Trivia in the Fall as the season gets into swing. In the meantime, consider getting a team together, and let’s make Tuesday nights about some fun and friendly competition when we start back up.

The bar has received three new flat-screen TVs just in time for football season. We had an active crowd this past Saturday for lunch and College Football. If you are in town, you should really check out IFC for lunch and afternoon football on Saturday. Our lunch menu is the best in town, and the Bloody Marys are fantastic.

Progress on the new building is still moving quickly. We did have a few speed bumps with the plans and a couple of revisions, but we have managed to move forward. We hope to be able to host a walkthrough at some point once the site is a little further along. The view from both the second and third floors is incredible.

I hope to see you at IFC soon!

Sincerely,
Joe Roth, President
Board of Directors

Dear Members,

Welcome to the "DOG DAYS of SUMMER". Well the Summer Heat is upon us, and we all should try to stay healthy and cool. 

I hope you are all enjoying our new theme nights, "Trivia Tuesday", "Italian Night" on Wednesday, and our new "Shrimp Fest" on Thursdays.

Keep in Mind that we are still offering our regular menu during theses nights and hope to continue during the season with more, new and exciting options for you to enjoy. We also will soon be hosting small intimate special dinners for those members interested in sponsorship and naming right opportunities.

Progress on the new building continues and I think you will all be amazed with "YOUR NEW CLUB"! Please inform me when you get a new credit card whether it was lost or it has a new expiration date.

Our annual vacation dates will be September, 22nd thru October 7th and will re-open for dinner on Tuesday, October 8th.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Summer is in full swing, we can certainly feel it with the extreme heat.

This is the time of year when many of you go to your summer homes or go away on vacation. Enjoy your trip, and stay safe.

Construction on our new club continues at breakneck speed. Chris and his team are doing a great job, and his goal is to have the building dry in this September.

I would also like to remind all members about the sponsorship packet recently emailed, Sponsorship opportunities available, and the 25 lifetime memberships, of which nearly half have been taken. Once all are gone, the category will close.

Please inform me when you get a new credit card whether it was lost or it has a new expiration date.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Presidential Update
July 2024

If you have not been to the construction site, the project is moving forward very quickly. The progress (see photos here) is generating quite a buzz around town and I anticipate that it will be attracting more potential members.

The Board recently opened the Lifetime Membership category which had been closed for some time. The Board agreed to cap the number of newly offered Lifetime Memberships at 25. The response has been overwhelming and we have about half of those memberships sold. We continue to offer legacy naming opportunities within the new building, and some have been spoken for, but we do still have opportunities.

I am looking forward to our Italian theme night dinners that Vinnie and Chef Dave have come up with for a middle-of-the-week treat. I know we will be working to expand on these special nights mid-week to bring members out for more nights at the club. Look for other entertainment nights to be coming soon.

Hope to see you at IFC soon!

Sincerely,
Joe Roth, President
Board of Directors

Dear Members,

Well, the summer months are here, and The Tournament season has kicked off.
This is the time of year when bonefish, tarpon, and dolphin fishing are at theirbest.
I want to take a moment to thank all of our members for their support during what was a unique transitional season for the club this year.

We hope to have a busy summer this year and, as always, would encourage all members to visit our temporary location.

Construction is coming along and we should be pouring the concrete for the third floor the second week of this month (see photos here). Our goal is to have it dried in on or about September.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Presidential Update
June 2024

The construction of the new building is moving forward at a quick pace (see photos here). As I write this to you, we are very close to pouring the third level floor. The views from the third level are stunning and should provide for some beautiful sunset toasts. Now is certainly the time to encourage your friends and neighbors to join while we still have openings for new members.

To ensure that we maintain levels of service and our exclusivity as a club, the Board has recently added an additional section to our guest policy. A copy of the policy is included in this newsletter and can be made available to any member in good standing at their request. Any member who has a question or concern regarding the guest policy can address those to the Board of Directors.

Remember, we are still looking for some members who would like to leave alegacy in the form of naming rights for various sections of the new building. We will have a formal brochure on this going out to the entire membership. I encourage you to please get in contact with Vinnie, myself, or a Board member to discuss your interest and we will schedule a meeting to discuss the available opportunities.

Sincerely,
Joe Roth, President
Board of Directors

Dear Members,

Well it’s that time of year again when we say our "See you in November's". The staff and I would like to say to all of those returning to their summer destinations;
"Thank you for your support this season We thoroughly enjoyed seeing and serving all of you, and look forward to your return."

Construction on our new home is moving at a fast pace, (see the photos here) and as we move into the heart of summer we will see a lot more progress which is when we will see the 3rd level and the roof completed.

Chris and his crew are doing a great job. As we move forward with construction, it is of the utmost importance that those members who were granted the option of paying their assessment quarterly to get those pass due payments up to date.

Our construction draw schedule has not changed and your continued support is appreciated. If you have a friend or neighbor who you think maybe interested in membership, bring them in for dinner or a cocktail. Remember, you as a current members are our greatest asset to attract future members.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Thank you to all our members who came to our annual meeting. It was a great pleasure to see all our members who attended and who believe in the future of this great institution.

Thank you for all your comments over the past year on the performance of the staff and the work we've done at our temporary facility.

If you have a friend or neighbor who you think maybe interested in membership, bring them in for dinner or a cocktail. Remember, you, as current members, are our greatest asset in attracting future members.

Every month, I receive questions about member billing. We bill your credit card twice a month. On the 1st of the month, which covers all charges from the 15th of the prior month to the end of the prior month, plus dues. The 2nd billing is on the 15th of every month, which covers all charges from the 1st to the 15th of the current month. If you have any questions regarding your statements and or the billing process, don’t hesitate to call me. I hope this explanation helps.

Things are moving quickly with the construction. The second-level forms are being worked on daily, and the south stairwell has also been formed.

The service elevator cement was poured and the forms removed and the block work will be starting soon for the pit as well as the north side stairwell.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Presidential Update
April 2024

Construction on the new building continues to move further along and at a fast pace. We need to continue the progress and keep up with the funding necessary to complete the project.

The assessment “click to pay” invoice was sent just before April 1st. If you have not received one, please check your spam/junk folder for an e-mail from assessments@theislamoradafishingclub.com.

It is very important at this time that your outstanding assessment payments be brought current immediately. If you have an outstanding balance, please contact Vinnie with your credit card information to pay the balance owed.

We are currently on track to complete the project Spring / Early Summer of 2025. Let’s keep the ball rolling by making sure we have the funds to continue the project and prevent any delays.

Sincerely,
Joe Roth, President
Board of Directors

Thank you to all equity members who voted in this past election. Our current board members have been re-elected and they will continue to do a great job for the club.

Now that it is high season, we strongly recommend that all members make your dinner reservations, as far in advance as possible, or at a minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite our current members to our Annual Meeting on March 21st at 6:00 pm. This is an opportunity to meet your newly appointed  officers, here the status of the club and have a brief overview of the past year. Immediately following our annual meeting there will be a member appreciation party.

This will be a members only event. Construction progress is continuing as we finish up the underground work, and move into  some block work and building forms for the main level.

Once again Thank you to all our equity members who cast their ballots for our board of directors. The results are in and the current board was re-elected. I look forward to working alongside them to continue our efforts to provide our members with a great temporary location and an exciting future in our new building.

President: Joe Roth
1st Vice President: Ken Gentes
2nd Vice President: Allen Wood
Treasurer: Audra Hill-Wallace
Secretary: Cheryl Culberson
Membership: Tom Bray
Fishing: Steve Leopold & Dave Denkert
       Roger Young, Patti Stanley, Chris Trentine, Pete Pehrson

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Trophy Hunter wins Islamorada Fishing Club’s Captains Cup Sailfish Tournament

The Islamorada Fishing Club welcomed 68 anglers fishing on 19 boats for the Islamorada Fishing Club Captain’s Cup Sailfish Tournament on January 17th. Islamorada Fishing Club Member Captain Brian Cone led team Trophy Hunter to first place, also achieving the team’s second win in the three-leg Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship.

The Trophy Hunter team released five sailfish between 8:45 and 11:13 a.m. on the contest’s single day of fishing to take and maintain the lead, landing the winner-take-all prize of $19,000. Trophy Hunter angler 13-year-old Andy Cone of Tavernier, FL, released two of the teams’ fish, Club member Mark Mitchell and Kenneth Padgett, both from Charlotte, North Carolina, and Club Member Travis Bennett of Tavernier, Florida, each released one sail, to round out the team’s winning five fish total.

Returning to the dock in second place with three sailfish was Captain Marty Lewis of Marathon, Florida, at the helm of Main One/Main Attraction. The team’s anglers were Mark Busch of Key Colony Beach, Florida; Ben Zdan, Ariel Medero, and Alex Lewis from Marathon; and Danny Lombardo of Islamorada.

In third was Captain Alex Adler of Islamorada and his crew aboard Kalex. The team, including Indiana anglers Chris Chastain, Allen Sutkowski, and Nathan Burns, along with Colby Mason of Islamorada, released two sailfish. 26 sailfish were released in the IFC Sailfish Tournament, which is the second leg of the annual three-event Florida Keys Gold Cup Championship series.

Festivities were held in the club’s temporary location while their gorgeous new building was being built. The Islamorada Fishing Clubs Captains Cup Dolphin tournament will be held on June 27th, 2024.

Presidential Update
February 2024

As the New Building project moves ahead, every day gets more & more exciting. We are happy that so many of you have chosen to participate in this endeavor with us.

With regards to the assessment and those members who have chosen to pay via a payment schedule, it is important that you make those payments on a timely basis. If you need to make alternate arrangements, or If you have any questions when you receive your invoice, please contact Vinnie directly and he will be happy to help.

We continue to move forward with the construction project and need to stay on schedule.

Sincerely,
Joe Roth, President
On behalf of the Board of Directors

The weather has been gorgeous, although a bit chilly and windy these last few weeks, but better than the “Great White North,” so weather permitting, we encourage you to sit under the chiki and enjoy the weather we live here for.

All members are asked to make their Dinner reservations a minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. Please plan in advance, we will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered. Members wishing to make arrangements for a private party or special event should contact me at the Club.

Ballots for the annual elections have been Emailed. Please be sure to submit yours by or before February 21st. This year's elections will determine the carry-overs for next year.

We have plenty of parking around the back; please park north to south close to the storage containers.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Presidential Update
January 2024

On behalf of the Board, I wanted to take a moment to update everyone on the status of construction for the new building. At this point, we have completed a majority of the foundation work and are on schedule to pour concrete next week. We will then move on to working on the underground drainage for the next couple of weeks. End of month's goal is to have some blocks and columns in place. Once we get to the end of the month, we should have an updated schedule and timeline for the balance of the project.

As many of you know, we lost a number of members who, for various reasons, did not want to participate in the construction project. While we would wholeheartedly welcome anyone back at any point, we don’t think it is fair for those members to continue to enjoy the club week in and week out as guests of members who chose to pay the assessment. As a member who paid for the assessment, I know it is tough to be in a position between a friend and peers who supported the project. The Board continues to explore our guest policies across all member categories to ensure that membership continues to be equitable and accessible for those who have supported the cause. We would hope that this issue may work itself out and those who did not rejoin for whatever reason may see the value in coming back. Nevertheless, we will continue to monitor the situation so that we can service the expectations of members.

In the meantime, we hope that everyone is enjoying our location. Every time I go in for dinner, I receive really positive comments about the clean-up and light remodel we did for the restaurant. Several people can’t quite believe it is the same place. Even though the weather is sometimes a little challenging, the outside seating area is really a nice spot. We look forward to bringing forward more changes and more options to frequent the club as we grow into our space.

Thank you all for the support of the staff and the club as we chart this course.

Sincerely,
Joe Roth, President
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!!!

Now that season is here and with the holidays behind us, we can all look forward to a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year.

I would like to encourage all members to make their dinner reservations at least 24 to 48 hours in advance. We will happily accept last-minute reservations with time and space availability being considered.

The Staff and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many members for their generous contributions Towards our Christmas Bonus Pool. Your generosity is always much appreciated. It has been our pleasure to have served you this past year

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Presidential Update
December 2023

Dear fellow members and friends,

The Holiday Season is upon us and this time of year, especially, is a time to reflect on the passing of another year, appreciate our blessings, and what we may do for others. Part of the tradition of our great Club is to show our trusted employees our appreciation by contributing toward the Holiday bonus pool.

We are so fortunate that we have a fantastic team of hospitality professionals at the Islamorada Fishing Club who have stayed the course through the Years.

Now more than before, it is important that we, as members, recognize the team that provides us with so many memorable evenings of great food, great drinks, and great friends.

I hope you will join the Board and me in contributing to the Holiday Bonus Pool.

In this edition of Shortcast, you will find a blue button below that you can click to show your appreciation to our 16 hard-working employees. Slips will be available at the Club as well, or you could contact Vinnie by phone, and he will debit your account.

Our combined generosity will likely make a positive impact on our team members and their families during the Holidays.

May you have a Happy and Joyous Season with continued good health for the New Year and beyond!

Sincerely,
Joe Roth, President
Islamorada Fishing Club

Welcome Home Snowbirds!!!

Exciting news awaits as you make your way back to Islamorada. We have completed the move to our temporary location and I am very proud of the way the new facility turned out in the short 6 weeks it took to go from one operation to another.

Be sure to come and see our new home for yourself and try our newest menu items Chef Dave has created alongside all the classic dishes.

A tentative date has been set for Thursday November 9th for the demolition of our old facilities and we encourage you to take the opportunity to drive by and take one last photo.

I would like to take this time to remind everyone that we strongly Recommend that all members make your dinner reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance, and to notify the club promptly of any cancellations or changes to your reservation.

Reservations will be gratefully accepted at the last minute, subject to availability.

We also encourage members to reserve your cut for our “Prime Rib Night” every Saturday.

Please be sure we have updated credit card information as well as telephone numbers, e-mail and physical addresses.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Presidential Update
September 2023

Dear members,

We continue to make progress towards moving into our temporary location after our normal September vacation. I am excited to report we have made a number of improvements to our temporary location (formerly Tuna’s/Uncle’s Restaurant) including an entire clean out of the kitchen, resurfacing of the kitchen floors, painting of the walls in the kitchen and throughout the dining area, cleaning and painting in and around the bar and painting of the outside deck surfaces.

We continue to work on the grounds around the building and anticipate signage, some landscaping, fence repair, and some exterior painting all being completed shortly. We will begin to move tables and chairs over after September 16 to the main dining room at our temporary location. This along with moving our dock side seating over to our new outdoor seating area should retain some of that familiarity you are used to at IFC.

A great deal of work and thought has gone into this transitional space in an effort to make the experience as close to what you would expect from IFC. We hope you will enjoy it!

Sincerely,
Joe Roth, President

Dear Members,

We are working diligently at our new temporary location and are in the final stages. We have been approved for our licenses and are waiting patiently for our final inspections.

I would like to thank all members for their patience during this arduous task of Relocating, there have been many hurdles to over come and we have tackled most if not all of them.

I am just now getting my office set up, but am experiencing some difficulties with the network / internet and hope that this shortcast reaches all of you.

Looking forward to your return to, "Your Club, The Islamorada Fishing Club".

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

September 16th is fast approaching for our final closing of our great clubhouse that has served us for so many years.

We will be hosting a farewell dinner on Saturday the 16th, similar to our member appreciation Party.

Although our staff will be on vacation, I will be getting us transitioned Into our new Temporary facility, formerly known as “Uncle’s” for an October re-opening.

I will be sending updates as to our progress and our re-opening.

The Staff and I would like to thank our members for their continued support during the past year and during our usual hot summer days.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Presidential Update
August 2023

Dear members,

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am excited to announce that we have signed a lease to operate the Islamorada Fishing Club out of the former Uncles/Tunas restaurant. We will be working for the next month to get our new temporary location ready for operation. Our entire team will all make the move, we will be serving our menu, and we will be doing what we can to make the surroundings remind you of IFC.  This is an excellent opportunity for us to have a location that is presently a restaurant which should make the transition smooth.

A few members have expressed a desire to sponsor (naming rights) certain areas of our new facility.  We have discussed some options for this, and we have put together some thoughts about what perks and recognition would be associated with different levels of donation.  If you have interest, please contact Vinnie, and we will set up an in-person meeting.

We know that Summer is a time for vacations and that some of the membership may have missed the correspondence regarding the building and the assessment, or maybe some were waiting for a cue we were moving forward.  If you fall into either of these categories, we will be reaching out with reminder correspondence shortly and will entertain any of your questions about going forward.  If there is a way to make the process of paying the assessment more palatable for your individual circumstances, we can open a dialogue and make it happen.

We will be moving forward with the demolition of our current location and beginning the construction in November.  As we get closer to an exact date for construction, we will transition to our new location, and we will continue to keep you informed about the timeline.  We have discussed some type of party or gathering to bid farewell to the building that has housed us since 1950, and we will bring those details to you as they are finalized.

I know this piece of the plan has been a concern to many, and I have been told that not knowing where we are going was a reason for them to wait on paying the assessment.  I know that for many, continuity, continued camaraderie, and just a place to see friends are a big part of the IFC allure. This has been the plan all along, but in the interest of fairness to the members and to potential sites, we just could not make a formal announcement until such time we were sure of the location.

Sincerely,
Joe Roth, President
 
IFC Board of Directors
Ken Gentes (First Vice President), Allen Wood (2nd Vice President), Audra Hill Wallace (Treasurer), Cheryl Culberson (Secretary), Tom Bray, Steve Leopold, Chris Trentine, Dave Denkert, Roger Young, Pete Pehrson, Patti Stanley

Dear Members,

Welcome to the "DOG DAYS OF SUMMER"! The Summer Heat is upon us, and we all should try to stay healthy and cool.

It is club policy that reservations for all guests must be called in advance by the sponsoring member themselves.

Please keep in mind that although we do encourage you to send your guests to enjoy the club, and even though I may know many of these guests from previous visits, it would be greatly appreciated if all members would adhere to this policy so all parties can avoid a potentially embarrassing situation. With our upcoming project, the board will be reviewing our current guest policy.

Thank you for your cooperation with this important matter.
Please inform me when you get a new credit card, whether it was lost or it has a new expiration date.

Please Keep in Mind our annual vacation dates will be September, 16th thru October 2nd, at which time will be transitioning to our temporary location.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Summer is in full swing, and we can certainly feel it with the extreme heat.

This is the time of year when a lot of you go to your summer homes or go away on vacation. Enjoy your trip, and stay safe.

I wanted to thank you all for your patients with the numerous closures during Tarpon Tournament Season. We are very proud to host these prestigious events, as we have for many, many years.

Please inform me when you get a new credit card, whether it was lost or it has a new expiration date.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear members,

Wow!!! The club membership never ceases to amaze me with their support for our upcoming new building project and have shown that the idea of paying it forward and moving this institution and its traditions into the 21st century and beyond is a priority.

Some of you have expressed yourselves in many different ways about the assessment. It is my belief that the board has listened to and addressed these concerns by offering a variety of covenants, such as; Four years post construction of no dues or minimums increase in addition to the current and pre-construction covenant of no dues increases with the already suspended Food & Beverage minimums for all who participate in the assessment.

The other consideration the board has decided to extend to all who participate is that, if within 2 years post-construction you decide to relinquish your membership, you will be given a full refund of your assessment provided a board-approved & vetted member is available to replace you. This coupled with the fact that we will be capping the membership at 475 for 1 year or until we have a handle on operations. This cap will allow the members to enjoy the club they have supported over the years and will also generate a buzz and create demand for new members to apply.

There are a number of other things that are not mentioned or fully conveyed in some of the board's communications, and those are the things within my control. The value associated with the club, like the familial feeling of which nearly 14 years ago I set out to accomplish, the food & beverage prices, quality, service, the availability of getting a reservation last minute, accommodating large parties, the longevity of staff and how we have all grown to, dear I say, love and appreciate. This, of course, is not just exclusive to staff and our extended families, but to members and their extended families as well as their guests. This is what it means to be a part of something special.

Special is a word that may not get the attention it deserves. We are all very lucky to have had the opportunity to enjoy this special feeling due in part to the considerate and generous members of the past. Individuals Like the 72 charter members, Bob Regan, Frank & Jean Hurlburt, Bob & Pat Lodge, and many others who have paid it forward and assured the continuation of this place we call “Our Club” during the hard times. Through these individuals' commitment to and desire to pay it forward and see this special institution and all its traditions continue, we are the beneficiaries.

It is disheartening to hear individuals express the idea that “why should I pay for something/someone to enjoy that I may not be around to enjoy?” I ask you to reread the paragraph above and ask yourself if the time you have spent here invokes a feeling of your special memories of the past, Birthdays, anniversaries, family dinners, friendships, and unfortunately, the losses, and isn’t it special to be surrounded by friends during those good times as well as those difficult ones.

I, for one, cannot put those feelings that I have been blessed to experience aside, the loss of my mother, which was pivotal in my decision to remain an employee here due to the outpour of support and condolences shared after only 1 year of employment, the always welcome questions about Mia &   Vincent have kept me here, and the overwhelming support from this family will keep me here so that I may continue to pay it forward with my dedication to “Our Club”  The Islamorada Fishing Club. That is what I call special.

Thank you all,
“THE NEXT GENERATION OF FOUNDERS”

Anglers were greeted with flat seas & extremely hot weather on Thursday, June 29th, for the 23rd  Annual Islamorada Fishing Clubs Captain’s Cup Dolphin Tournament.

41 anglers headed out to capture three big dolphin. It would be the largest combined weight of three fish that would be needed to win the tournaments $11,000.00 in prize money. When the scales closed at 5 PM, all the stories were the same. There were lots of fish out there but no big ones.

It would be IFC Member Captain Brian Cone aboard the "Conetagious" that would find the three biggest dolphin. Caribee Boat Sales and Yamaha outboards sponsored first-place trophies would go to Anglers IFC Member Travis Bennet, Don DeLeon, Reef Bennett, and Andy Cone. The team would weigh 21 pounds combined to win the $11,000.00 grand prize. A tough day of fishing for all.

Capt. Chris Ware of "Executive Decision" would be closest in second with 20.8 pounds From Anglers John & Jill Paglia, Sam Milazzo & Mike Kasten and take the TD Bank sponsored second place trophies.

Captain Cody Darby fishing the "Kill Box" with Anglers Tyler Kelley, KC Spaulding, Corbin Buckley, and Joey Marino, would take home trophies for third place with a total of 20.1 pounds, Sponsored by Regan/Roth Insurance.

"The Islamorada Fishing Club put on an amazing show," stated the tournament director Dianne Harbaugh. Angler gifts and ditty bags loaded with SWAG were handed out on the kickoff night. Fantastic appetizers followed by a dinner buffet awaited all the anglers and guests. The awards ceremony on Thursday evening was filled with amazing appetizers, followed by a Plated exceptional dinner. All the anglers and Captains are excited and ready to be a part of next year’s event, which will be the last Thursday in June 2024.
 

Dear Members,

Well, it’s that time of year again when we say our “See you in November’s” The staff and I would like to say to all of those returning to their summer destinations:

“Thank you for your support this season. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing and serving all of you and look forward to your return.”

With the Spring time weather now upon us, we can look forward to those longer days, warmer waters and plenty of good spring Fishing!!!

May & June are Tournament months, and as a Reminder, the club will be closing for these dinners as we have in past years.

Effective May 1st, all membership categories will be closed until further notice.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Thank you to all our members who came to our annual meeting. It was a great pleasure to see all our members who attended the meeting and the member appreciation dinner afterward.

Thank you for all your comments over the past year on the performance of the staff.

Every month I receive questions about member billing. We bill your credit card twice a month on the 1st of the month, which covers all charges from the 15th of the prior month to the end of the prior month, plus dues & any unspent food & beverage minimums due. The 2nd billing is on the 15th of every month, which covers all charges from the 1st to the 15th of the current month. If you have any questions regarding your statements and or the billing process, don’t hesitate to call me, I hope this explanation helps.

Spring is in the air & Tarpon abounds. We are still experiencing a great season and looking forward to a very busy April & May.

Please make any dinner reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance.

Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park three deep, pulling all the way forward. Also, please utilize our contiguous parking lot less than 500 feet north of the club.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Thank you to all equity members who voted in this past election. Our current board members have been re-elected, and they will continue to do a great job for the club. The Proposed By-Law Change to Vote Electronically has also been adopted.

Now that it is high season, I strongly recommend that all members make Dinner reservations as far in advance as possible or at a minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. We will gratefully accept last-minute reservations with time and space availability being considered.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite all our members to our annual Meeting on March 16th at 6 pm This is an opportunity to meet your newly appointed officers, hear the status of the club & have a brief overview of the past year.

Immediately following our annual meeting, there will be a member appreciation party. This will be a members-only event.

Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard.

Our New Parking Area, which is 400 feet north of the club on the right side, is open for business; there is a driveway on the south side of the open area to enter our lot. (Look for the IFC signage above the entry) Follow the driveway to the block wall under the lights.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Season is in full swing in Islamorada & here at the Club as well.

All members are asked to make their Dinner reservations a minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. Please plan in advance. We will gratefully accept last-minute reservations with time and space availability being considered. Members wishing to make arrangements for a private party or special event should contact Vinnie at the Club.

Ballots for the annual elections have been mailed. Please be sure to mail yours back to the club on or before February 17th. This year's elections will determine the carry-overs for next year. Please fill in the proposed Bylaws change as well.

Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep, pulling all the way forward. We encourage the use of our satellite parking area 400 feet north of the club on the right.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Fellow Members and Friends,

The Holiday Season is upon us and this time of year, especially, is a time to reflect on the passing of another year, appreciate our blessings, and what we may do for others. Part of the tradition of our great Club is to show our trusted employees our appreciation by contributing toward the Holiday bonus pool.

We are so fortunate that we have a fantastic team of hospitality professionals at the Islamorada Fishing Club who have stayed the course through the ups and downs of this year as we all worked through still unusual times.

Now more than before, it is important that we, as members recognize the team that provides us with so many memorable evenings of great food, great drinks, and great friends.

I hope you will join the Board and me in contributing to the Holiday Bonus Pool. In this edition of Shortcast, you will find a blue button below that you can click to show your appreciation to our 13 hard-working employees. Slips will be available at the Club as well, or you could contact Vinnie by phone, and he will debit your account. Our combined generosity will likely make a positive impact on our team members and their families during the Holidays.

May you have a Happy and Joyous Season with continued good health for the New Year and beyond!

Sincerely,

Joe Roth III
President
Islamorada Fishing Club

Participate in the Tacky Sweater Contest
(Categories include ugly, tacky, and original)
Have a cup of cheer and enjoy your club!
Participation Fee is One Canned or Dry Food 
RSVP: 305-664-4735

Dear Members,

A lot of our members have inquired about the progress of our new building plans. After being delayed 6 months due to a village code issue and with that now behind us, we are excited to currently be in the middle of the required posting for our site plan approval. The architectural plans are also in the final stage, and we hope to submit them for building permits soon.

We are thrilled to roll out a new menu this month with a lot of great additions for this season. So come by and try some of your future favorites.

I received many positive comments on the format of last month’s shortcast. This is due to our new Marketing Strategist, Melina Miller. Melina has grown up in the club as her family has been very supportive members of the club for many years. Melina was also a 2013 IFACT scholarship recipient. Thank you, Melina, for your hard work.

I would like to take this time to remind everyone that we strongly recommend that all members make their dining room reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance, and to notify the club promptly of any cancellations or changes to your reservation.

Reservations will be gratefully accepted at the last minute, subject to availability.

We also encourage members to reserve their cut for our “Prime Rib Night” every Saturday.

Please be sure we have updated credit card information as well as telephone numbers, e-mail, and physical addresses.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

The Club is re-opened, and we are anxiously awaiting the return of all the snowbirds. We did some necessary minor maintenance during our closure.

I would like to welcome Chef Brian James to the IFC family. Both he and Chef Jean will be manning the stoves along with Chef Dave.

We are again hosting a couple of annual fishing tournaments this month, The Fall All Tackle as well as the IWFA Ladies Tournament.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

September 18th is fast approaching for our annual closing for general Maintenance.

Our last dinner service will be Saturday September 17th and we will reopen Tuesday, October 4th For dinner and for lunch on Thursday, October 6th.

Although our staff will be on vacation, I will available to you during the 2 weeks should you need anything or have any questions as you prepare for your return to Islamorada. The Staff and I would like to thank our members for their continued support during the past year and our usual hot summer days.

Well It has been quite a summer this year. The club has struggled with staffing issues this past year and the struggle continues. Our Chef Jeannie has moved on to other endeavors. Thankfully Chef Jean (our Sous Chef this past Year) remains an integral part of the family and with the assistance of our former Chef Dave, are keeping the kitchen up and running. Our new Chef is scheduled to arrive this month and will work closely with Chef Jean and Chef Dave through the month of October.

My assistant Nicole has decided to move back home to N.Y. to be closer to her Grand Parents and go back to College. We wish her the best of luck. We do have a few new faces, Alison, Karen (servers) and Nate our new busboy.

We also said goodbye to 2 long time beloved members of the club. They will be missed by many.
Rest In Peace Sue Rhodus and David Chase.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Welcome to the “DOG DAYS of SUMMER”. The Summer Heat is upon us, and we all should try to stay healthy &cool.

It is club policy that reservations for all guests must be called in advance by the sponsoring member themselves. Please keep in mind that although we do encourage you to send your guests to enjoy the club and even though I may know many of these guests from previous visits, it would be greatly appreciated if all members would adhere to this policy so all parties can avoid a potentially embarrassing situation. Thank you for your cooperation with this important matter. 

Please inform me when you get a new credit card whether it was lost or it has a new expiration date.

Please Keep in Mind our annual closing dates will be September, 18th thru October 3rd. We will re-open on Tuesday October 4th.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Summer is in full swing, we can certainly feel it with the extreme heat.

This is the time of year when a lot of you go to your Summer homes or go away on vacation. Enjoy your trip and stay safe.

I wanted to thank you all for your patients with the numerous closures during Tarpon tournament Season. We are very proud to host these prestigious events as we have for many, many years.

Please inform me when you get a new credit card whether it was lost or it has a new expiration date.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Well the summer months are here, and The tournament season has kicked off! I would like to thank everyone in advance for your understanding during our club closures for these tournaments. This is the time of year, when bonefish, tarpon and dolphin fishing are at their best. I want to take a moment to thank all of our members for their support during what was an exceptionally busy season for the club this year.

I am expecting to have a busy Summer as well this year and as always would encourage all  members to make your dinner reservations a minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. We will do our best to accept walk ins and late requests, however this may not always be possible.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Click here to download the 2022 Tournament Schedule Of Events (PDF)

Click here to download the Official Tournament Rules (PDF)

Click here or on the image below to download the 2022 Entry Form (PDF)

Dear Members,

Well it’s that time of year again when we say our, "See you in November's". The staff and I would like to say to all of those returning to their summer destinations, "Thank you for your support this season We thoroughly enjoyed seeing and  serving all of you, and look forward to your return."

With the Spring time weather now upon us we can look forward to those longer days, warmer waters and plenty of good spring Fishing!!! May & June are Tournament months and as a Reminder, the club will be closing for these dinners as we have in past years.

As a friendly reminder I would like to ask all members to please remember to put your IFC "Name Tag" on your car dashboard and pull as far forward as possible when at the club.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Thank you to all our members who came to our annual meeting. It has been a a great pleasure to see all our members who attended the meeting and member appreciation dinner afterwards. Thank you for all your comments over the past year on the performance of the staff.

Every month I receive questions about member billing. We bill your credit card twice a month. On the 1st of the month, which covers all charges from the 15th of the prior month to the end of the prior month, plus dues and any unspent food and beverage minimums due. The 2nd billing is on the 15th of every month which covers all charges from the 1st to the 15th of the current month. If you have any questions regarding your statements and or the billing process, don’t hesitate to call me, I hope this explanation helps. Spring is in the air & Tarpon abound. We are still experiencing a great season and looking forward to a very busy April & May.

Please make any dinner reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance. Please be considerate to your fellow members and make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward. Also please utilize our contiguous parking lot less than 500' North of the club.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Thank you to all equity members who voted in this past election. Our current board members have been re-elected and they will continue to do a great job for the club.

Now that it is high season, I strongly recommend that all members make dinner reservations at minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite the membership to our annual meeting on March 17th at 6pm This is an opportunity to meet your newly appointed officers, here the status of the club & have a brief overview of the past year. Immediately following our annual meeting there will be a member appreciation party. This will be a members only event.

Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard. Our New Parking Area, which is 400 feet north of the club on the right side, is open for business; there is a driveway on the south side of the open area to enter our lot. Look for the the IFC signage above the entry. Follow the driveway to the block wall under the lights.

Once again Thank you to all our equity members who cast their ballots for our board of directors. The results are in and the current board was re-elected. I look forward to working alongside them to continue our efforts to provide a safe and prosperous club for all our members.

1st Vice President: Ken Gentes
2nd Vice President: Allen Wood
Treasurer: Audra Hill-Wallace
Secretary: Cheryl Culberson
Membership: Tom Bray
Fishing: Steve Leopold & Dave Denkert
               Roger Young, Patti Stanley, Chris Trentine, Pete Pehrson

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Season is in full swing in Islamorada & here at the Club as well. All members are asked to make your dinner reservations a minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered. Members wishing to make arrangements for a private
party or special event should contact me at the Club.

Ballots for the annual elections have been mailed. Please be sure to mail yours back to the club on or before February 17th. This years elections will determine the carry-overs for next year.

Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward. We encourage the use of our satellite parking area 400 feet north of the club on the right.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

$25000.00 ~ WINNER TAKE ALL

Attention Captains, Anglers & Mates! Don’t miss your chance to win up to $25,000.00 in prize money!

The Islamorada Fishing Clubs Captains Cup Sailfish Tournament kicks off on January 26th with fishing on January 27th. This is the final leg of the Gold Cup series and space is filling rapidly, so grab your fishing buddy and sign up today!

This one day all release sailfish tournament is limited to 30 boats. With a full field the prize money may be increased to $30,000.00. The tournament entry fee is $2,500.00 and $300.00 for a 3rd angler and includes 3 social tickets for each night.

Don’t miss out! Call the Club to enter today 305-664-4735.

Dear Members,

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!!!

Now that season is here and with the Holidays behind us, we can all look forward to a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year.
 
I would like to encourage all members to make your Dinner reservations at least 24 to 48 hours in advance. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered.

The Staff and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many members for their generous contributions Towards our Christmas Bonus Pool. Your generosity is always much appreciated. It has been our pleasure to have served you this
past year.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Fellow Members and Friends,

The Holiday Season is upon us and this time of year, especially, is a time to reflect on the passing of another year, appreciate our blessings and what we may do for others. This year has again, been challenging to say the least with the ongoing pandemic that has virtually changed all aspects of our lives. Certainly our thoughts are with those who have experienced adverse health or those families who have lost loved ones.

We are so fortunate that we have a fantastic team of hospitality professionals at the Islamorada Fishing Club who have stayed the course through the ups and downs of this year as we all worked through still unusual times. Even so, our team has had to sacrifice hours (income) during times.

Now more than before, it is important that we as members recognize the team that provides us with so many memorable evenings of great food, great drinks, and great friends. I hope you will join me and the Board in contributing to the Holiday Bonus Pool. In this edition of Shortcast, you will find an enclosed bonus slip that allows you to show your appreciation to our 13 hard-working employees. Slips will be available at the Club as well or you could contact Vinnie by phone or email (vinnie@theislamoradafishingclub.com) and he will debit your account. Our combined generosity will likely make a positive impact on our team members and their families during the Holidays.

May you have a Happy and Joyous Season with continued good health for the New Year and beyond!

Sincerely,

Joe Roth III
President
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

I wanted to take this time to express my sincerest gratitude for all the comments you all have made during this difficult time at the club as it pertains to the lack of available Kitchen personnel and your response to my cooking abilities. It has always been a big part of my career and albeit stressful and difficult, I have certainly enjoyed knowing that with the help of our dedicated staff we are able to keep the Kitchen open and keep our staff employed.

Although we are closer to having a new Chef, we are still looking for a new Sous Chef, so my tenure in the kitchen will most likely last through this month.

Your patience and understanding with reservations thus far is very much appreciated and still very much needed until I am able to get these positions filled and trained. I would  also like to thank the board of directors for their continued support and understanding of the difficulties we are faced with.

I would also like to announce the addition of Nicole Rubertone to our team who will be training with me to perform general club operations & managerial duties as soon as I can resolve the aforementioned kitchen issues. She has been doing a great job and although many of you have already met her, please welcome her to our family with open arms.

The Holidays are right around the corner. We will be open this Thanksgiving with a bounty of delectable offerings from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm so please call us with your reservation.

I would like to take this time to remind everyone that we strongly recommend that all members make your dining room reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance, and to notify the club promptly of any cancellations or changes to your reservation.

Reservations will be gratefully accepted at the last minute, subject to availability. We also encourage members to reserve your cut for our "Prime Rib Night" every Saturday.

Please make sure we have updated credit card information as well as telephone numbers, e-mail and physical addresses. 

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

The club is re-opened, and we are anxiously awaiting the return of all the snowbirds.

I would like to take this time to remind everyone that a reservation is required by all members wishing to dine at the club.

Please make your dining room reservations 24-48 hours in advance, & notify the club promptly of any cancellations or changes to your reservation.

Please remember we are serving lunch Thursday, Friday & Saturday only.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Welcome to the "DOG DAYS of SUMMER". The Summer heat is upon us, and we all should try to stay healthy and cool.

It is club policy that reservations for all guests, must be called in advance by the sponsoring member themselves. Please inform me when you get a new credit card whether it was lost or it has a new expiration date.

Recently we've have had a lot of guests walk in the club saying that they are friends of "John Q" member. It is club policy that reservations for all guests, must be called in advance by the sponsoring member themselves. Please keep in mind that although we do encourage you to send your guests to enjoy the club and even though I may know some of these guests from previous visits, it would be greatly appreciated if all members would adhere to this policy so all parties can avoid a potentially embarrassing situation. Thank you for your cooperation with this important matter.

Please keep in mind that our annual closing dates will be September 19th thru October 4th.
We will re-open on Tuesday, October 5th.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Summer is in full swing, we can certainly feel it with the extreme heat.

This is the time of year when a lot of you go to your summer homes or go away on vacation.

Let’s not forget about your club, especially if you have friends or family coming to  visit. They are always welcome to use the club as your guests, even in your absence. Just call me and make a reservation For them, they can pay their own way or charge to your account, either way, what they spend will go towards your annual Food & Beverage minimum.

Please inform me when you get a new credit card whether it was lost or it has a new expiration date.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Well the summer months are here, and The Tournament season has kicked off, I would like to thank  everyone in advance for your understanding during our club closures for these tournaments.

This is the time of year, when bonefish, tarpon and dolphin fishing are at their best. 

Please Know that although the mask mandate has been lifted, the staff will still be wearing theirs. We come into contact with many more people throughout our day and do not want another closure to happen.

I am expecting to have a unusually busy summer this year {HOPEFULLY} and as always would encourage all members to make your dinner reservations a minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. We will do our best to  accept walk-ins and late requests, however this may not always be possible.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Well it’s that time of year again when we say our "See you in November's". The staff and I would like to say to all of those returning to their summer destinations; "Thank you for your support this season. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing and serving all of you, and look forward to your return."

With the Spring time weather now upon us we can look forward to those longer days, warmer waters and plenty of good spring Fishing!!!

As a friendly reminder I would like to ask all members to please remember to put your IFC "Name Tag" on your car dashboard and pull as far forward as possible when at the club. If you don’t have a tag please see me and I will be happy to give you a new one. 

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

I know a lot of you are getting ready to say goodbye for now, and heading home for the summer. This has been one heck of a year where we all got to express ourselves with different patterned masks, fist bumps, elbow rubs and a whole bunch of other things that made this year so unusual. 

Well, its time we all get our vaccines and put this behind us so that we can get back to shaking hands, hugging, seeing loved ones and all the things we missed out on this year.  The staff and I take great pride in how we handled this very fluid situation this past year and that we were able to keep our club going and serve all of you. 

We want to thank all of you for your patience, understanding, sarcasm, staff donations etc.…. However it was the joy and laughter you brought that was the most rewarding of all. It is something we treasure each and every day. 

On behalf of,
Vinnie, Jeff, Chef Dave, Annie, Connie, Lilly, Marguerite, Suelsa, Charlie, Shawn & Jamie
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Thank you to all our members who came to our annual meeting via Zoom . It has been a over a year since we began this "New Normal" and it was a great pleasure to see all our members who attended our Family Style Easter Brunch this year! 

Thank you for all your comments over the past year on the performance of the staff given these unusual  times.  Every Month I Receive questions about member billing. We bill your credit card twice a month. On the 1st of the month, which covers all charges from the 15th of the prior month to the end of the prior month, plus dues & any unspent food & beverage minimums due. The 2nd billing is on the 15th of every month which covers all charges from the 1st to the 15th of the current month. If you have any questions regarding your statements and or the billing process, don’t hesitate to call me, I hope this explanation helps. 

Spring is in the air & tarpon abound. We are still experiencing a great season and looking forward to a very busy April & May. Please make any dinner reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance. Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward.  

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Thank you to all equity members who voted in this past election. Our current board members have been re-elected and they will continue to do a great job for the club. 

I would like to take this opportunity to invite All equity members to join our annual Meeting via Zoom on March 18th at 6 pm. Instructions will be in a follow-up e-mail.

This is an opportunity to meet your newly appointed officers, here the status of the club and have a brief overview of the past year. Unfortunately we will not be having our annual member appreciation party as it is such a popular event  and we do not want to let our guard down just yet.

Now that it is high season, I strongly recommend that all members make Dinner reservations at least 24 to 48 hours in advance. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered. Any Bar seating will be for table reservations only.

Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard. Our new parking area, which is 400 feet north of the club on the right side, is open for business; there is a driveway on the south side of the open area to enter our lot. (Look for the the IFC signage above the entry) Follow the driveway to the block wall under the lights.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Season is in full swing in Islamorada & here at the Club as well. All members are asked to make your Dinner reservations a minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. Everyone wants to eat at certain times and we are doing our best to follow protocols to keep everyone safe & Healthy.

We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered. Members wishing to make arrangements for a private party or special event should contact me @ the Club. Ballots for the annual elections have been mailed. Please be sure to mail yours back to the club on or before February 18th.

Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward. We encourage the use of our satellite parking area 400 feet north of the club on the right.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Now that season is here and with the Holidays behind us, we can all look forward to a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year.

I would like to encourage all members to make your dinner reservations at least 24 to 48 hours in advance. Please remember that we are limiting our capacity to keep all of us safe. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered. Please keep in mind bar seating is currently only allowed for those with dinner reservations

The Staff and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many members for their generous contributions Towards our Christmas Bonus Pool. Your generosity is always much appreciated. It has been our pleasure to have served you this past year. 

Although the State has moved into Phase 3, Monroe County still requires a face covering in all business’s upon entering, once you have been seated you may remove your mask. If you get up to use the restroom or converse with friends at another table, you must wear a mask.

Despite moving to phase 3, we will not be filling the club to capacity.

We will also try our best to keep all table reservations at a safe distance.

We will not be restarting our Friday night happy Hour until further notice.

We are currently only serving lunch Thursday, Friday & Saturday but we will reevaluate lunch as we move forward in the season. All these steps are in the best interest of all members and staff.

You are required to make a reservation to dine at the club. Please make reservations, preferably 24 – 48 hours in advance.

Same day and last-minute reservations will take all guidelines into consideration.

Please arrive on time for your reservation and know that in some cases we may have to re-seat your table to allow other members access for dinner.

Bar seating will be available only for cocktails prior to moving to your table, so long as it does not exceed your reservation time.

We ask for all member’s cooperation as it applies to reservations and face coverings. All these steps are in the best interest of all members and staff. We will continue to do this for all our protection & so that we may continue to serve you throughout these unprecedented times.

Dear Fellow Members and Friends,

The Holiday Season is upon us and this time of year, especially, is a time to reflect on the passing of another year, appreciate our blessings and what we may do for others. This year has been challenging to say the least with a pandemic that has virtually changed all aspects of our lives. Certainly our thoughts are with those who have experienced adverse health or those families who have lost loved ones. 

This year has been especially hard on those in the hospitality industry with lost time, or worse, lost positions. We are so fortunate that we have a fantastic team of hospitality professionals at the Islamorada Fishing Club who have stayed the course through the ups and downs of this year as we all worked through a very fluid situation. Even so, our team has had to sacrifice hours (income) during times when IFC was not able to open and/or could not operate at maximum capacity.

Now more than before, it is important that we as members recognize the team that provides us with so many memorable evenings of great food, great drinks, and great friends. I hope you will join me and the Board in contributing to the Holiday Bonus Pool. In this edition of Shortcast, you will find an enclosed bonus slip that allows you to show your appreciation to our 13 hard-working employees. Slips will be available at the Club as well or you could contact Vinnie by phone or email (vinnie@theislamoradafishingclub.com) and he will debit your account. Our combined generosity will likely make a positive impact on our team members and their families during the Holidays.

May you have a Happy and Joyous Season with continued good health for the New Year and beyond!

Sincerely,

Joe Roth, III
President, Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

The Holidays are right around the corner. We will be open this Thanksgiving with a bounty of delectable offerings from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm so please call us with your reservation.

Don’t forget The Islamorada Fishing Club for your holiday party Please contact us to reserve your date and time for your family or company event.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

The club is re-opened, and we are anxiously awaiting the return of all the snowbirds.

I would like to take this time to remind everyone that a reservation will be required by all members wishing to dine at the club. Please make your dining room reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance and notify the club promptly of any cancellations or changes to your reservation.
 
These are unchartered waters we are navigating and I am thinking about the health of our staff and membership alike. I will be following up with our club protocols and procedures just to remind everyone who might just be getting back.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

We want to keep you informed on the protocols we are using at the club to keep all members and staff safe and healthy during these trying times we are all facing.

We are sanitizing all contact surfaces in the club daily and intermittently through the day including, dining room chairs, doors & bathroom fixtures. None of the tables are preset, silverware is rolled in dinner napkins and salt & pepper shakers are replaced with a sanitized set. There are numerous other changes that you may notice, such as no sugar caddies or cracker baskets or mints in a bowl at the front door. If you would like a mint please ask Marguerite I’m sure she will get one for you. There is hand sanitizer at the table near the host stand. All staff is wearing face coverings at all times.

We are continuing to have the club professionally sanitized through a fogging machine at a minimum of 2 times per month. In order for us to comply with the mandated State and local policies, we need all member’s cooperation as it applies to reservations and face coverings. Please arrive on time for your reservation and know that in some cases we may have to re-seat your table to allow other members access for dinner and to not exceed our 50% capacity. Please wear face coverings at all time with the exception of when you are seated.

Bar seating will be available for cocktails prior to moving to your table, so long as it does not exceed your reservation time. Again access and capacity. We hope you all know that we do all these things and will continue to do so for all of our protection and so that we may continue to serve you throughoutthese unprecedented times.

Dear Members,

Welcome to the "DOG DAYS of SUMMER". The Summer heat is upon us, and we all should try to stay healthy and cool. It is club policy that reservations for all guests, must be called in advance by the sponsoring member themselves. Please keep in mind that during these unprecedented times we will be limiting club usage for guests.

Although, under normal circumstances, we would  encourage you to send your guests to  enjoy the club, in an abundance of caution and for the safety of all, we would ask that you refrain from sending your guests to dine at the club. Thank you for your cooperation with this important matter.

Please keep in mind that our annual closing dates will be September, 20th thru October 5th. We will re-open Tuesday October 6th.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

September 19th is fast approaching for our annual closing for general maintenance. Our last dinner service will be Saturday, September 19th and we will reopen on Tuesday, October 6th for dinner and for lunch on Thursday, October 8th. For the time being we will continue serving lunch on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only, until further notice.
 
The past seven months have been very challenging for the staff and I, and we continue to operate under the current mandated guidelines, for the protection of ourselves but most importantly for our membership. The good news is that The Club is going to come out on the other side unscathed and still healthy. Although our staff will be on vacation, I will available to you during the 2 weeks should you need anything or have any questions as you prepare for your return to Islamorada.

As we have said before the situation with Covid-19 is constantly changing. We are still at a mandated 50% occupancy for indoor seating with proper social distancing. Outdoor seating is also available with appropriate social distancing. We are allowing only those with a reservation to have a drink at the bar prior to going to their table to keep within the mandated guidelines of 50% occupancy. 

Monroe County has issued a directive requiring face coverings to be worn outside whenever social distancing of six feet or more is not possible. Also, all employees and customers must wear a face coverings in all public establishments, the face coverings may be removed when seated, but must be worn if you leave your seat. I want to thank all of you for your cooperation and understanding as we navigate this very fluid environment. 

The staff and I would like to thank our members for their continued support during these unprecedented times and our usual hot summer days.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

On Behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to bring you up to date on the State of the Club during these unusual times we are experiencing. There have been some great questions asked for Vinnie & myself to address.

The club is operating at 50% capacity as mandated by the county, which allows us to have 40 guests inside the club at any given time. This can be challenging, and making reservations as early as possible will help better facilitate your requests. If you wish to stay after dinner for a drink we encourage outside seating so that we can maintain our guest count at 40.  It is also important to keep in mind that bar seating/service is limited to those members who have a reservation for a table that evening. Table seating is also limited to stay with-in mandated guidelines of social distancing. Liquor service is only available to seated guests at the table or at the bar with a prior dinner reservation.

Thanks to the efforts of Vinnie & the Staff the club is financially stable and will make it through theses difficult times. Our employees are healthy and  appreciative of your continued support We have re-opened for lunch Thursday, Friday & Saturday only, with normal operating hours (11:30-2:00 pm) and Dinner hours are Tuesday thru Saturday, 5:30 to 8:00pm. We have kept our menus the same with some limitations, as well as nightly specials. Vinnie & the Chef are currently in the process of creating a new summer dinner menu.

We are continuing with our sanitation protocols, sanitizing all contact surfaces daily and intermittently through out the day and professionally fog sanitizing twice monthly. Vinnie has ordered three hand sanitizing dispensers which are expected to arrive the first week in August. There will be one in each rest room and one in the main entrance of the club.
 

Dear Members,

As most of you know they will be removing the check points to enter the Keys on June 1st.

At this time we are mandated to seat only 50% occupancy indoors, and maintain a distance of 6' apart outside. With our seating capacity limited, I highly recommend all members make advance reservations and   understand that we will try our best to accommodate requested reservation times. These are certainly unprecedented times we are dealing with, and we will come through this stronger and smarter.

Our new parking area is complete and will offer additional convenient parking within walking distance. Board member Allen Wood & Bruce McClenithan have generously donated the construction of a sign frame which should be completed soon.

We will be hosting two very prestigious tournaments this month, "The Gold Cup" Tarpon Tournament & Our own "IFC Captains Cup" Dolphin Tournament that will bring back a bit of much needed normalcy. The staff and I are very thankful for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Thank you to all our members who came to our annual meeting. All your gracious comments meant a lot to myself and the board as well. I hope you all enjoyed the food & drink, the prospect of a new facility and the future of this magnificent club.

It's hard to believe that I have been employed as your club manager for the past 10 years, I guess it’s a labor of love. I wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you all!!!

In these times of uncertainty, I wanted to assure you all, that the board, myself and our incredible staff will be doing everything we can to maintain our take-away operations.

Those of you who have experienced our drive thru know that our main concern is for the health and well being of our staff and our members. The staff is overwhelmed and greatly appreciative of your support and your generosity.
 

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

The procedures for our drive-thru pick up is:

• Enter at the north side of the parking lot between the orange cones
• Pull forward around towards the front door staying between the cones
• Stop at the IFC Burgee by the sidewalk
• A member of the staff will bring your food and your check to you
• There is no need for you to get out of the car or call us to let us know you are here
• If you are not comfortable handling the check to sign, just express that to the person bringing it to you and we will make sure it is closed to your account.

Starting on Tuesday 4/7/20 we will be taking your orders for dinner at 2:30 pm forward. If you call and no one answers please leave a message on the answering machine with your name & number and we will call you back as soon as we can. Please do not leave your order on the phone. We will not be offering lunch until further notice.

As of now the schedule for menus will remain as follows:

• Menu for Tuesday and Wednesday will be e-mailed on Monday night
• The next menu for Thursday & Friday will be e-mailed Wednesday night
• The final menu for Saturday will be a variation of the Friday night menu with the addition of our very popular prime rib.
• We have been selling out of the prime rib as we usually do. Are protocol for ordering the prime rib has always been to reserve your cut as soon as possible.

We are all so grateful to be able to continue to serve you, albeit in a very different way. The one thing we should all pray for everyday, is that we are all able to come through this with
our health.

Dear Members,

Thank you to all equity members who voted in this past election. Our current board members have been re-elected and they will continue to do a great job for the club. I would like to welcome Pete Pehrson as our newest Board member.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite All members to our annual Meeting on March 12th at 6pm This is an opportunity to meet your newly appointed officers, here the status of the club & have a brief overview of the past year.

Immediately following our annual meeting there will be a member appreciation party. This will be a members only event. Now that it is high season, I strongly recommend that all members make dinner reservations at least 24 to 48 hours in advance. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered.

Please do not park in or block the driveway next to the club and please be considerate to your fellow members and make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard.

Our New Parking Area, which is 400 feet North of the club on the right side, is open for business; there is a driveway on the south side of the open area to enter our lot. (Look for the orange cones & yellow post) Follow the driveway to the block wall under the lights.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Season is in full swing in Islamorada & here at the Club as well. I would like to encourage all members to make your Dinner reservations a minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered. Members wishing to make arrangements for a private party or special event should contact me @ the Club. Ballots for the annual elections have been mailed. Please be sure to mail yours back to the club on or before February 20th.

Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your ashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Now that season is here and with the Holidays Now that season is here and with the Holidays behind us, we can all look forward to a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year.

I would like to encourage all members to make your dinner reservations at least 24 to 48 hours in advance. Please remember that we have limited window tables available. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered. Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward.

The staff and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many members for their generous contributions towards our Christmas Bonus Pool. Your generosity is always much appreciated. always much appreciated. It has been our pleasure to have served you this past year.

Sincerely,
Vinnie, Jeff, Chef Dave, Connie, Annie, Lilly, Diana, Taylor, Stefana, Charlie, Suelsa, Greg & Marguarite
The Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Fellow Members and Friends,

The Holiday Season is here again and part of the tradition of our great Club is to show our trusted employees our appreciation by contributing toward the Holiday bonus pool.

In this edition of the IFC ShortCast, you will find an enclosed bonus slip that allows you to show your appreciation to our 13 hard working employees. We will also have slips available in the Club. Your generosity means a great deal to our employees. Quite often it is your generous gesture that makes all the difference for the employees and their families during the Holidays.

Please take a moment to fill out the bonus slip with your contribution, or, just simply e-mail the Club at vinnie@theislamoradafishingclub.com and we will debit your account. Thank you all for being so generous to our employees. They appreciate it!

I wish you and yours a happy, safe and healthy holiday.

Best regards,

Joe Roth II
President
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

As the weather turns chilly up north we welcome back our members to the sunny days and cool nights in Islamorada. I would like to take this time to remind everyone that we strongly Recommend that all members make your dining room reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance, and to notify the club promptly of any cancellations or changes to your reservation. Reservations will be gratefully accepted at the last minute, subject to availability.

We will be open this Thanksgiving with a bounty of delectable offerings from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm so please call us with your reservation. Please call us with your reservation.  We also encourage members to reserve your cut for our "Prime Rib Night" every Saturday.

It is especially important when making reservations for your guests/potential members to phone in their reservation, inform the club of your guests first and last names and if they will be paying or signing to your account. This will insure proper credit towards your minimums.

Please be sure we have updated credit card information as well as telephone numbers and e-mail and physical addresses. Please Be sure to have your name placard your name placard your name placard on your car dashboard & pull all the way forward while parking.

Welcome Back to your Club ~ "The Islamorada Fishing Club" 

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

The club is re-opened, and we are anxiously awaiting the return of all the snowbirds. I would like to take this time to remind everyone that we strongly encourage members to make your dining room reservations 24-48 hours in advance, and to notify the club promptly of any cancellations or changes to your reservation.

The Holiday Season will soon be upon us Start Planning your Holiday Parties early to secure availability at the club. Please be sure to place your name placard in the windshield and pull all the way forward when visiting the club . This will make it a lot easier to get a car moved. If you need a placard, please ask, we have a lot!

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

September 14th is fast approaching for our annual closing for general Maintenance.

Our last dinner service will be Saturday September 14th and we will reopen Tuesday October 1st.

The last few years we were very busy with interior, exterior and overall club improvements. We will be doing some Minor repairs, cleaning and organizing this year.

Although our staff will be on vacation, I will available to you during the 2 weeks if should you need anything.

As we get closer to the upcoming season, please think of the club first for any special events you may be planning.

The staff and I would like to thank our members for their continued support during these hot Summer days.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Welcome to the "DOG DAYS of SUMMER". Well the Summer Heat is upon us, and we all should try to stay cool.

Don’t forget, if you have guests coming to town and they would like to use the club, call and let me know their names and if they will be paying their own way or if they are able to charge to your account, either way their food and beverage will go towards your minimum. Please inform me when you get a new credit card whether it was lost or it has a new expiration date.

Please keep in mind our annual closing dates will be September, 15th thru September 30th. We will Re-Open Tuesday October 1st.

Recently I have had a lot of guests walk in the club saying they are friends of "John Q" member. It is club policy that reservations for all guests, must be called in advance by the sponsoring member themselves.

Please keep in mind that although we do encourage you to send your guests to enjoy the club and even though I may know some of these guests from previous visits, it would be greatly appreciated if all members would adhere to this policy so all parties can avoid a potentially embarrassing situation. Thank you for your cooperation with this important matter.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Summer is in full swing, we can certainly feel it with the extreme heat. This is the time of year when a lot of you go to your summer homes or go away on vacation.

Let’s not forget about your club, especially if you have friends or family coming to visit. They are always welcome to use the club as your guests, even in your absence. Just call me and make a reservation For them, they can pay their own way or charge to your account, either way, what they spend will go towards your annual Food & Beverage minimum. 

Please inform me when you get a new credit card whether it was lost or it has a new expiration date.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Well the summer months are here, and The Tournament season has kicked off, I would like to thank everyone for your understanding during our club closures for these tournaments. This is the time of year, when bonefish, tarpon and dolphin fishing are at their best. 

Our new parking area is nearly complete and will offer additional convenient parking in walking distance. On behalf of the membership and the Board of Directors, I wanted to thank IFC Board Member Roger Young and his crew from Islamorada Brick & Outdoors for a great job on our new parking area. The lot looks great and will be ready for use when we complete the final layout. Please remember to pull all the way forward when parking at the club, and put you name placard on your dashboard. 

I would like to encourage all members to make your dinner reservations a minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. Members wishing to make arrangements for a private party or special event should contact me at the Club.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Well it’s that time of year again when we say our, "See you in November’s". The staff and I would like to say to all of those returning to their summer destinations;

"Thank you for your support this season. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing and serving all of you, and look forward to your return."

With the Spring time weather now upon us we can look forward to those longer days, warmer waters and plenty of good spring Fishing!

As a friendly reminder I would like to ask all members to please remember to put your IFC Name Tag on your car dashboard and pull as far forward as possible when at the club. If you don’t have a tag please see me and I will be happy to give you a new one.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Thank you to all our members who came to our annual meeting. All your gracious comments meant a lot to myself and the board as well. I hope you all enjoyed the "Great News" and the wonderful party afterwards.

Every month I receive questions about member billing. We bill your credit card twice a month. On the 1st of the month, which covers all charges from the 15th of the prior month to the end of the prior month, plus dues and any unspent food and beverage minimums due. The 2nd billing is on the 15th of every month which covers all charges from the 1st to the 15th of the current month. If you have any questions regarding your statements and or the billing process, don’t hesitate to call me, I hope this explanation helps. Spring is in the air and tarpon abound. We are still experiencing a great season and looking forward to a very busy April & May.

Please make any dinner reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance. Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Thank you to all equity members who voted in this past election. Our current board members have been reelected and they will continue to a great job for the club. Thank you to Jerry Case for his almost 10 years of service on our Board. I would like to welcome Chris Trentine as our newest Board member.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite All members to our annual Meeting on March 21st at 6pm This is an opportunity to meet your newly appointed officers, here the status of the club & have a brief overview of the past year.

Immediately following our annual meeting there will be a member appreciation party. This will be a members only event.

Now that it is high season, I strongly recommend that all members make dinner reservations at least 24 to 48 hours in advance. Please remember that we have limited window tables available & they are filled on a first come first serve basis. With our incredibly gorgeous weather, I encourage you to try our outdoor patio. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered.

Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward. If you need a new name tag to put on your dashboard, please see Marguarite.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Thank you to all equity members who voted in this past election. Our current board members have been reelected and they will continue to a great job for the club. Thank you to Jerry Case for his almost 10 years of service on our Board. I would like to welcome Chris Trentine as our newest Board member.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite All members to our annual Meeting on March 21st at 6pm This is an opportunity to meet your newly appointed officers, here the status of the club & have a brief overview of the past year.

Immediately following our annual meeting there will be a member appreciation party. This will be a members only event.

Now that it is high season, I strongly recommend that all members make dinner reservations at least 24 to 48 hours in advance. Please remember that we have limited window tables available & they are filled on a first come first serve basis. With our incredibly gorgeous weather, I encourage you to try our outdoor patio. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered.

Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward. If you need a new name tag to put on your dashboard, please see Marguarite.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Season is in full swing in Islamorada & here at the Club as well. I would like to encourage all members to make your Dinner reservations a minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered. Members wishing to make arrangements for a private party or special event should contact me at the Club.

Ballots for the annual elections have been mailed. Please be sure to mail yours back to the club on or before February 21st. the club on or before February 21st.

Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

February 14, 2019

Appetizers:
Salmon Tartare with Traditional Accoutrements
or
Pan Seared Lobster Tail with Corn Relish

Soup / Salad:
Wild Porcini Mushroom Soup
or
Baby Field Greens, Pickled Apple, Crispy Pancetta,
Fried Goat Cheese and Balsamic Reduction

Entrees Choice:
Scallop Encrusted Yellowtail Snapper, Au Gratin Potatoes, Asparagus,
Bacon and Scallion Cream
or
Grilled Pork Chop with Smashed Purple Potatoes, wilted Spinach
Jalapeño Ginger Beer Glaze
or
Seared New York Strip with Honey Rosemary Eggplant, Fingerling
Potatoes and Roasted Tomato Hollandaise

Dessert:
Chocolate Marquis Cake with Amarena Cherries

Price: $58.00 (Plus Tax & Gratuity)
* Beverages Not Included | Reservations Required | Regular dinner menu not available this night

Dear Members,

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce that we are under contract for the purchase of additional property on Madeira Road within walking distance from the Club. As everyone knows, parking has been of concern for quite some time. We have been extremely fortunate through the years to have great neighbors and supportive members, the Lindback Family, who have been gracious enough to work with us for overflow parking. For some time, we had an arrangement with Vernis and Bowling to use their back lot just 400 feet from our entrance but due to their insurance carrier's concerns we were unable to continue using that lot.

The Board along with staff has worked diligently to put the Club in the best financial position in years thus allowing us to capitalize on this seldom available opportunity to provide a permanent, owned parking alternative for events, busy evenings, and future
plans to enhance our facility.

Upon closing the transaction, of which our board member Patty Stanley, acting as our realtor, has generously donated her portion of the commission towards our closing costs, we will work to come up with an effective plan to use the property to alleviate many of our parking issues. I am truly excited about this opportunity as I know many of our members will be too.

Sincerely,

Joe Roth III
President
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!!! Now that season is here and with the Holidays Now that season is here and with the Holidays behind us, we can all look forward to a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year.

I would like to encourage all members to make your Dinner reservations at least 24 to 48 hours in advance. Please remember that we have limited window tables available. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered. Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward.

The Staff and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many members for their generous contributions towards our Christmas Bonus Pool. Your generosity is always much appreciated. always much appreciated. It has been our pleasure to have served you this past year.

Sincerely,

Vinnie, Jeff, Chef Dave, Sandy E., Connie, Annie, Sandy G., Jennifer, Lilly,
Diana, Charlie, Ty, Suelsa, & Cheyenne
 

Attention Captains, Anglers & Mates,

$25,000.00 -- Winner Takes All!!!

Don’t miss your chance to win up to $25,000.00 in prize money! The Islamorada Fishing Club Captain's Cup Sailfish Tournament kicks off on January 23rd with fishing on January 24th.

This is the second leg of the Gold Cup series and space is filling rapidly. So grab your fishing buddy and sign up today.

This one day all release sailfish tournament is limited to 30 boats. With a full field the prize money may be increased to $30,000.00. The tournament entry fee is $2,500.00 and $300.00 for a 3rd angler and includes 3 social tickets for each night.

Don’t miss out! Call the Club to enter today!
(305) 664-4735
www.theislamoradafishingclub.com

Hello, Fishermen!

It is December and we are finally having temperatures get into the 50's here in the Keys. This has been a very warm fall for us this year! I realize that the rest of the country has had some early winter conditions already, but the cold fronts just haven't pushed through south Florida until now. Hopefully this cold snap will help improve the winter fishery that we usually have here in the Keys (like sailfish, wahoo, cobia, and grouper). The cold fronts make the biggest difference in the movement of bait fish. With the drop in water temperature, the bait fish will tend to seek the warmer waters near the reef. With these huge schools of bait showing up on the top of the reef, it is only a matter of time for the predator fish to show up to feed. Due to large schools of ballyhoo showing up, we have already had some exciting showering action this fall which had produced some great sailfish catches. I predict that after a few more cold snaps, the bait showers will only get better and better. The best way to target the sailfish, tuna, and dolphin in these showers is to use a light spinning rod with a 30lb. leader. On the Conetagioius, we prefer a 3/0 circle hook and a live ballyhoo or pilchard as bait. Once you get near the shower, simply cast the bait as far as you can in the direction of the shower. The healthier the live bait, the better! The sailfish often want the bait to try and get away. It is kind of like a game of "cat and mouse" to them. Running bait showers can be one of the most exhilarating ways to target sailfish anywhere in the world. You also have a good chance of catching other species in the showers as well. My neighbor caught an African pompano this week casting into a shower!

I have had numerous mutton snappers and groupers eat a live bait in a shower over the years. This fall we've had several great days catching some nice blackfin tuna and dolphin showering ballyhoo. The offshore fishing was been very good the past few weeks. Maybe it will continue over the next month with a little luck! The weed and current edges are the key to having a productive day this time of year. We have had some great catches of dolphin and wahoo on magical pieces of debris found along the current edges this past month. Earlier this fall, we were offshore running up a weed edge looking for a piece of debris for mahi when I spotted a blue marlin tailing down the weed edge. With the help of quick thinking on my mate Daniel's part, we were hooked up to a 400 lb blue marlin. It turned out to be an epic battle and we got to see an amazing show while we battled it on the 30 lb spinning rod. You just never know what you will encounter out there so be prepared Over the past few weeks, the blackfin tuna fishing has been surprisingly better than usual for the early winter. The sharks are not such a problem now that the water temperatures are dropping. We all know how frustrating the humps can be when the sharks are bad. The bait of choice lately has been belly-hooked cigar minnows or pilchards. Live ballyhoo will work quite well too. Those same light spinning rods with 20-30lb leader and a 3/0 circle hook will also do the trick on the tuna. Don't be surprised if you get cut off. It could be a barracuda or maybe a wahoo. So, maybe have a spinning rod with a trace of wire ready to go.

Speaking of wahoo... they're becoming one of my favorite fish to target in the winter months. We have put in a good amount of time in last year wahoo-trolling and did pretty well. There were several days where we had multiple hook-ups. This year has started off a little slower, but maybe I was anxious and started targeting them to soon. The water this year hasn't been as clear blue as it was last year either. In my opinion, that is the single biggest factor in doing well for wahoo. If you see deep purple-blue water, then there is a good chance that you will have a shot or two at a wahoo. We like to troll cigar leads with a lure trailing about 20-30 ft behind. Our best speed seem to be from 12-17 mph here in the Keys. The best depth for us has been from 120 - 200 feet. The wahoo are also a blast on light spinning rods with live bait. Large speedos or cigar minnows seem to work best.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. If you are stumped on a present for a loved one, consider a fishing charter! They not only will love it, but the boat crew will appreciate the business. Our industry has gone through a lot with the storms over the past few years. And, you never know, maybe it will be the trip of a lifetime!

CONTAGIOUS ~ Capt. Brian Cone

 

Dear Fellow Members and Friends,

The Holiday Season is here again and part of the tradition of our great Club is to show our trusted employees our appreciation by contributing toward the Holiday bonus pool.

In this edition of Shortcast, you will find an enclosed bonus slip that allows you to show your appreciation to our 14 hard working employees. We will also have slips available in the Club.

Your generosity means a great deal to our employees. Quite often it is your generous gesture that makes all the difference for the employees and their families during the Holidays. Please take a moment to fill out the bonus slip with your contribution, or, just simply e-mail the Club at vinnie@theislamoradafishingclub.com and we will debit
your account.

Thank you all for being so generous to our employees. They appreciate it!   I wish you and yours a happy, safe and healthy holiday.

Best Regards,

Joe Roth III
IFC President

Appetizers (Choice of One)

• Pan Seared Scallops with Prosciutto, Sauternes Gelee', and White Balsamic
• Shrimp and Crab with White Cocktail Sauce

Soup or Salad (Choice of One)

• Shrimp and Corn Chowder
• IFC Lobster Bisque

Or

• Watercress, Goat cheese, Grilled Figs, Toasted Pistachio, Honey Vinaigrette
• Hearts of Baby Romaine, Chopped Bacon, Grape Tomato, Bleu Cheese Crumbles, Creamy Bleu Cheese

Entrée Choice

• Rack of Lamb, Black Currant Gastrique, Smashed Yukon Gold Potatoes, White & Green Asparagus
• Pan Seared Halibut, Roasted Purple Peruvian Potato, White & Green Asparagus, Shellfish Butter & Basil Oil
• Espresso and Truffle Glazed Short Rib, Dauphinoise Potatoes, White & Green Asparagus

Dessert

• Triple Chocolate Marquis
• Reconstructed Berry Cobbler

$65.00
Reservations Required
Beverages Not Included
305-664-4735

Dear Members,

The Holidays are right around the corner. We will be open this Thanksgiving with a bounty of delectable offerings from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm so please call us with your reservation.

Don’t forget The Islamorada Fishing Club for your holiday party Please contact us to reserve your date and time for your family or company event.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

November 22, 2018 | 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Roasted Turkey with Marsala Gravy
Honey Baked Spiral Ham
Roast N.Y. Sirloin

Farro Salad with Pecans, feta, and dried cherries
Four cheese Macaroni & Cheese
Roasted Winter Squash with Cider and Chili Glaze
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Agave, bacon, and togarashi
Wild Rice Stuffing
Butter Herb Stuffing
Cornbread Stuffing with Sausage and Fennel
Sweet Potato and Candied Pecan Casserole
Crispy Smashed baby Potatoes
Cranberry Apricot Sauce
Green Beans, Wild Mushroom Cream and fried shallots
Sweet Tea Glazed Baby Carrots

Desserts
Pumpkin Pie, Stone Fruit Crumble, Pecan Pie,
Dutch Apple Pie, Coconut Bread Pudding
Coffee & Tea

$38.95
Does not include Tax and Service Charge Beverages not included
Please call for reservations

COME ALL YOU GUYS & GHOULS...

Carve your very own scary pumpkin and bring it to the club the week of October 22nd! Make sure to dress up in your creepiest, scariest or just plain fun costume!

Each pumpkin will be judged by the IFC staff & the winners announced on Friday October 26th! 

Dear Members,

The club is re The club is re-opened, and we are anxiously opened, and we are anxiously awaiting the return of all the snowbirds. awaiting the return of all the snowbirds. I would like to take this time to remind everyone that we strongly encourage members to make your dining room reservations 24- reservations 24-48 hours in advance 48 hours in advance, and to notify the club promptly of any cancellations or changes to your reservation. cancellations or changes to your reservation.

The Holiday Season will soon be upon us Start Planning your Holiday Parties early to secure availability at the club. to secure availability at the club.

Please be sure to place your name placard in the windshield and pull all the way forwardwhen visiting the club . This will make it a lot easier to get a car moved. If you need a Placard, please ask, we have a lot!!!

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Summer is in full swing, we can certainly feel it with the extreme heat. This is the time of year when a lot of you go to your summer homes or go away on vacation. Let’s not forget about your club, especially if you have friends or family coming to visit. They are always welcome to use the club as your guests, even in your absence. Just call me and make a reservation For them, they can pay their own way or charge to your account, either way, what they spend will go towards your annual Food & Beverage minimum. 

Please inform me when you get a new credit card whether it was lost or it has a new expiration date.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Well the summer months are here, and the tournament season has kicked off, I would like to thank everyone for your understanding during our club closures for these tournaments.

This is the time of year, when bonefish, tarpon and dolphin fishing are at their best. Please remember to pull all the way forward when parking at the club, and put you name placard on your dash board.

I would like to encourage all members to make your dinner reservations a minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. Members wishing to make arrangements for a private party or special event should contact me at the Club.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Well it’s that time of year again when we say our, "See you in November's". 

The staff and I would like to say to all of those returning to their summer destinations.

Thank you for your support this season. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing and serving all of you, and look forward to your return.

With the Spring time weather now upon us we can look forward to those longer days, warmer waters and plenty of good spring Fishing!!!

As a friendly reminder I would like to ask all members to please remember to put your IFC "Name Tag" on your car dashboard and pull as far forward as possible when at the club. If you don’t have a tag please see me and I will be happy to give you a new one.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Thank you to all our members who came to our annual meeting. All your gracious comments meant a lot to myself and the board as well. I hope you all enjoyed the "Great News" and the wonderful party afterwards.

Every month I receive questions about member billing. We bill your credit card twice a month. On the 1st of the month, which covers all charges from the 15th of the prior month to the end of the prior month, plus dues & any unspent food & beverage minimums due. The 2nd billing is on the 15th of every month which covers all charges from the 1st to the 15th of the current month. If you have any questions regarding your statements and or the billing process, don’t hesitate to call me, I hope this explanation helps.

Spring is in the air & tarpon abound. We are still experiencing a great season and looking forward to a very busy April & May. very busy April & May. Please make any dinner reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance. Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward. deep pulling all the way forward.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Thank you to all equity members who voted in this past election. Our current board members have been reelected and they will continue to a great job for the club.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite all members to our Annual Meeting on March 15th at 6:00 pm. This is an opportunity to meet your newly appointed officers, here the status of the club & have a brief overview of the past year.

Immediately following our annual meeting there will be a Member Appreciation Party. This will be a members only event.

Now that it is high season, and with fewer dining choices available since the storm I would recommend that all members make dinner reservations at least 24 to 48 hours in advance. Please remember that we have limited window tables available and they are filled on a first come first serve basis. With our incredibly gorgeous weather, I encourage you to try our outdoor patio. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered. 

Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward. If you need a new name tag to put on your dashboard, please see me. Unfortunately we are no longer able to park at the Vernis & Bowling property.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Season is in full swing in Islamorada & here at the Club as well. I would like to encourage all members to make your Dinner reservations a minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered. Members wishing to make arrangements for a private party or special event should contact me @ the Club. Ballots for the annual elections have been mailed. Please be sure to mail yours back tothe club on or before February 15th.

Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Appetizer Choice

• Smoked Salmon Crudo
• Lobster and Corn in Puff Pastry

Soup / Salad Choice

• Italian Wedding Soup
• Baby Arugula Pickled Apple and Fennel, Crispy Pancetta, Citrus Vinaigrette

Entree Choice

• Pan Seared Yellowtail Snapper, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Asparagus, Lump Crab Creole Sauce
• Roasted Stuffed Pork Loin with Succotash, Bacon Essence, Apple Sweet Tea Gastrique, Sweet Mashed
• Braised Short Ribs with Polenta, Blistered Heirloom Tomatoes, Shaved Foie Gras, and Truffle Oil

Dessert

• Chocolate Marquis Cake w/ Amarena Cherries

$56.00 per Person, Plus Tax & Gratuity, Beverages not included

* Reservations Required
** Regular dinner menu not available this night

$17,000.00 in cash plus prizes were awarded to IFC Member Team My Sea Cin winners of the 2018 Islamorada Fishing Club's January Sailfish Tournament on January 25th with a field of 17 boats. “We were very happy with the attendance this year. There were 42 sailfish released in this one day event. The awards that were
presented were original hand crafted sculptures by Chris Costello.

Winning trophies were presented to IFC member Steve Orton, and anglerJustin Miller, with 7 releases. My Sea Cin Captain Raymond Biaz & His Mate Matt Davis were also awarded custom original trophies & a check for $17,000.00.

Remix fought their way into second place securing their spot also with 6 releases . Anglers Michelle & Rudy Espinoza, & Doug Mientkiewicz were given 2nd Place Trophies. Captain James Cleary & mate Ryan Alexander took home trophies as well. Captain Brian Cone with Mate Dan Attales on Contagious released 5 sailfish to take home third place honors. Once again hand crafted sculptures were presented to anglers & IFC members Travis Bennett & Mark Mitchell, along with Tim Rahn.

The Islamorada Fishing Club outdid themselves this time. I would like to commend the entire staff for a job well done. Our anglers loved the food, drink and good time we had. The next tournament in the fishing club’s series is the June Dolphin Tournament.

For more information on the Islamorada Fishing Club visit us online at: www.theislamoradafishingclub.com

Dear Members,

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!!! Now that season is here and with the Holidays behind us, we can all look forward to a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year.

The staff and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many members for their generous contributions to our Christmas Bonus Pool. Your generosity is deeply appreciated. It has been our pleasure to have served you this past year.

Sincerely,
Vinnie, Jeff, Chef David, Sandy E, Connie, Annie, Sandy G, Jennifer, Lilly,
Diana, Charlie, John, Russ, Charlie, & Cheyenne

Attention Captains, Anglers & Mates,

Don’t miss your chance to win up to $25,000.00 in prize money!

The Islamorada Fishing Clubs Sailfish Tournament kicks off on January 24th with fishing on January 25th. This is the final leg of the Gold Cup series and space is filling rapidly. So grab your fishing buddy and sign up today.

This one day all release sailfish tournament is limited to 30 boats. With a full field the prize money may be increased to $30,000.00. The tournament entry fee is $2,500.00 and $250.00 for a 3rd angler and includes 3 social tickets for each night.

Don’t miss out! Call the Club to enter today at 305-664-4735.
 

Dear Fellow Members and Friends,

The Holiday Season is here again and part of the tradition of our great Club is to show our trusted employees our appreciation by contributing toward the Holiday bonus pool.

In this edition of the Shortcast, you will find an enclosed bonus slip that allows you to show your appreciation to our 15 hard working employees. We will also have slips available in the Club. Your generosity means a great deal to our employees.

Quite often it is your generous gesture that makes all the difference for the employees and their families during the Holidays. Please take a moment to fill out the bonus slip with your contribution, or, just simply e-mail the Club at: vinnie@theislamoradafishingclub.com and we will debit your account.

Thank you all for being so generous to our employees. They appreciate it!  I wish you and yours a happy, safe and healthy holiday.

Best regards,
Joe Roth III
IFC President

Dear Members,

As the weather turns chilly up north we welcome back our members to the sunny days and cool nights in Islamorada. I know it has been somewhat of a shock to some of you as you return. We have weathered many storms in the Keys, and this will only make us all stronger and more resilient. I wanted to thank each and everyone of the IFC members for extending their concerns not just for the condition of the club, but for the genuine heartfelt concern for myself and the staff.

The Holidays are right around the corner. We will be open this Thanksgiving with a bounty of delectable offerings from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm so please call us with your reservation. Don’t forget The Islamorada Fishing Club for your holiday party Please contact us to reserve your date and time for your family or company event.

I would like to take this time to remind everyone that we strongly Recommend that all members make your dining room reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance, and to notify the club promptly of any cancellations or changes to your reservation. Reservations will be gratefully accepted at the last minute, subject to availability. We also encourage members to reserve your cut for our “Prime Rib Night” every Saturday.

It is especially important when making reservations for your guests /potential members to phone in their reservation, inform the club of your guests first and last names and if they will be paying or signing to your account. This will insure proper credit towards your minimums.

Please be sure to have your name placard on your car dashboard & pull all the way forward while parking.
 
Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

Dear Members,

The Islamorada Fishing Club is open for business!

I wanted to take this time to express on behalf of the staff and myself a heartfelt Thank You to all our IFC members who took the time to call and write e-mails with their concerns, for not only the condition of the club but for all of us personally during hurricane Irma.

The absence of communication during and after the storm was due to us  not having internet or phone services until this Wednesday. Just to bring you up to date.

Fortunately our  club was not heavily impacted from the storm with the exception of our fences down and some debris and We were able to get most of our maintenance projects completed as scheduled during our annual closure. We hope that you’ll were safe and your properties were undamaged.
We look forward to seeing everyone upon your return.
 
Sincerely,

Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear IFC Members,

Due to pending storm “Irma” and the mandatory evacuation, the club will be closed till further notice. We hope all of you have secured your properties and have moved to a safe location. We look forward to seeing everyone when we re-open.

September 17th is fast approaching for our annual closing for general maintenance and capital improvements. Our last dinner service will be Saturday, September 16th and we will re-open Tuesday, October 10th. The last few years we were very busy with interior, exterior and overall club improvements. We will be doing some minor repairs, cleaning and organizing this year. 

Although our staff will be on vacation, I will available to you during the week of October 2nd should you need anything. As we get closer to the upcoming season, please think of the club first for any special events you may be planning.

Sincerely, 
 
Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Dear Members,

Summer is in full swing, we can certainly feel it with the extreme heat. This is the time of year when a lot of you go to your summer homes or go away on vacation. Let’s not forget about your club, especially if you have friends or family coming to visit. They are always welcome to use the club as your guests, even in your absence. Just call me and make a reservation For them, they can pay their own way or charge to your account, either way, what they spend will go towards your annual Food & Beverage minimum. Please inform me when you get a new credit card whether it was lost or it has a new expiration date.

Recently I have had a lot of guests walk in the club saying they are friends of “John Q” member. It is club policy that reservations for all guests, must be called in advance by the sponsoring member themselves. Please keep in mind that although we do encourage you to send your guests to enjoy the club and even though I may know some of these guests from previous visits, it would be greatly appreciated if all members would adhere to this policy so all parties can avoid a potentially embarrassing situation. Thank you for your cooperation with this important matter. 

Sincerely,
 
Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

IFC Members,
 
As most of you know June is Tarpon Tournament Season and because of the history of our club, we are Host to many of these prestigious tournaments. We are very proud to host these tournaments and be an integral part of maintaining the history and  integrity of tournaments past.
 
Due to this busy time of year, we wanted to inform you of the upcoming club closures for the month of June. I would like to thank everyone for your understanding during our club closures for these tournaments. Please see the attached calendar and the dates listed below. Please keep in mind that I will also send out reminders and any updates prior to the actual closure.

• Friday, June 9 - Closed
• Thursday, June 15 - Closed
• Wednesday, June 21 - Closed
• Friday, June 23 - Closed 
• Wednesday, June 28 - Closed
• Thursday, June 29 - Closed

This is the time of year, when bonefish, tarpon and dolphin fishing are at their best. Please remember to pull all the way forward when parking at the club, and put you name placard on your dash board.

I would like to encourage all members to make your dinner reservations a minimum of 24 to 48 hours in advance. Members wishing to make arrangements for a private party or special event should contact me @ the club.
 
Sincerely
 
Vinnie Feola
General Manager
Islamorada Fishing Club

Mother's Day Brunch ~ Menu

Please join BTT on March 30th, 2017 for the 4th Annual BTT Florida Keys Habitat Fundraiser at The Islander Resort in Islamorada, FL. The event will benefit the George Hommell Jr. Florida Keys Habitat Fund which supports BTT's work in the Florida Keys.

Enjoy drinks, BBQ, and live music from The Carousers. The evening will also feature a short presentation from Dr. Aaron Adams, Director of Science and Conservation for Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. Make sure to sign up as soon as possible as there are only a limited number of spaces available, and this one of a kind event is sure to fill up very quickly!

BTT is proud to support the Guides Trust Foundation by donating a portion of the proceeds from the evening's silent auction.
 
When and Where:
Thursday, March 30th, 2017 | 6:00 PM
The Islander Resort: Florida Keys Conference Center
82100 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036

Schedule of Events:
6:00 PM Cocktails, Silent Auction, Live Music
7:00 PM Dinner, BTT Keys Update

Event Committee:
Adolphus Busch IV, Steve Friedman, Carmen Perez-Padron, Bert Scherb, Bill Stroh
 
Price:

• $25 Licensed Guide
• $75 Single Ticket
• $140 Couple's Ticket
• $1,000 Permit Patron- Includes: Name on program and materials, 2 premium event tickets, and a custom BTT soft cooler
• $2,500 Gray Ghost Sponsor- Includes: Name on event program, 4 premium event tickets, and materials, Custom BTT Temple Fork Mangrove series 8wt fly rod
• $10,000 Silver King Sponsor- Includes name on program and materials, verbal recognition during program, Orvis Helios 2 fly rod and Mirage Reel, and a prime table of 10 premium event tickets.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

For questions or reservations contact: 
Ashley Siana -- Phone: 610-469-9052 | E-mail: ashley@bonefishtarpontrust.org 

Click for larger Valentines dinner menu

Florida Bay Forever will serve as grand marshals on December 2 in the Islamorada Holiday Parade. This year's parade theme is "Rockin’ Around the Florida Bay." Florida Bay Forever is a grass roots registered nonprofit unifying the voice of Monroe County to advocate to preserve the Florida Bay. FBFVR advocates for buying land south of the lake in order to store and clean water that can get to the Bay. 

The parade, part of the Chamber's 12th Annual Islamorada Holiday Festival, will begin at 7 p.m. that Friday evening in Founders Park. Florida Bay Forever will lead participants around a route that circles the park's Great Lawn, giving observers plenty of space and many great vantage points from which to view the action.

Sign-up for the parade remains open. Participants should design their entries in accordance with the "Rockin' Around the Florida Bay" theme. Bands, antique car groups, scout troops, churches, businesses and other organizations or individuals who are interested are encouraged to enter. Judges will select winners in several categories based on creativity and adherence to theme. In addition to the parade, Holiday Festival features visits and photos with Santa, a 30-ton snow mountain, a 35-foot tree blowing magical snow from its branches, the Holiday Gift Bazaar, delicious food and beverages, continuous live holiday stage performances, and returning for a third year, scrumptious desserts and coffee at Santa’s Sweet Shoppe.

To register for the parade, please stop by the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center at the entrance to Founders Park, or call 305-664-4503 and ask for a registration form.

Dear Members,

As the weather turns chilly up north we welcome back our members to the sunny days and cool nights in Islamorada. I would like to take this time to remind everyone that we strongly Recommend that all members make your dining room reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance, and to notify the club promptly of any cancellations or changes to your reservation. Reservations will be gratefully accepted at the last minute, subject to availability. We also encourage members to reserve your cut for our “Prime Rib Night” every Saturday.

It is especially important when making reservations for your guests/potential members to phone in their reservation, inform the club of your guests first and last names and if they will be paying or signing to your account. This will insure proper credit towards your minimums. Please Be sure to have your name placard on your car dashboard & pull all the way forward while parking.

Sincerely,
Vinnie

Dear Members,

As most of you know by now, my son Vincent was diagnosed with high functioning autism at the age of 3. Vincent has been the recipient of a scholarship from Island Dolphin Care in Key Largo the past 7 years. 

The Island Dolphin Care scholarship has provided classroom therapy and supervised dolphin swims for 1 week every afternoon for Vincent, now 14 years old. His response to this program is always incredible and very uplifting!!! They are a wonderful not for profit organization run by Deena & Peter Hoagland and an incredibly dedicated staff of therapists, dolphin trainers and interns. On November 19th they are holding their annual fundraiser dinner/auction to raise funds to assist children & families with special needs, and Veterans & Military personnel. 

Your participation would mean a great deal to Vincent, Mia and I. If you would like more information feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,
Vinnie

August 9, 2016
 
Happy summer everyone! We hope you are enjoying your summer, wherever you may be!  We are happy to announce that we have a new chef, David Dotero, who comes to us from Morada Bay.  David has an exceptional culinary background and a passion for his profession that is reflected in his cuisine and his demeanor.  Please help welcome him on your next visit. We look forward to seeing you at the IFC.
 
Cheryl Culberson
President,  for the IFC Board of Directors

Look for next year’s IFC Snook and Redfish Smack Down coming in October 2016!
Enter the family in the Men’s, Women’s or Junior Divisions!

Date: January 20 & 21, 2016

Kick-off - January 20, 2016
Fishing - January 21, 2016

The most sailfish caught and released determines the winners!
For more info call: (305) 664-4735
ENTRY FORM (PDF)

1st Place | 2016 IFC Captains Cup

Captain: Brian Cone

Anglers: Travis Bennett & Don Deleon

Mate: Dan Naumoff



 

Dear Members,

Thank you to all our members who came to our annual meeting. All your gracious comments meant a lot to myself and the board as well. I hope you all enjoyed the "Great News" and the wonderful party afterwards.

Every month I receive questions about member billing. We bill your credit card twice a month. On the 1st of the month, which covers all charges from the 15th of the prior month to the end of the prior month, plus dues & any unspent food & beverage minimums due. The 2nd billing is on the 15th of every month which covers all charges from the 1st to the 15th of the current month. If you have any questions regarding your statements and or the billing process, don’t hesitate to call me, I hope this explanation helps.

Spring is in the air & Tarpon abound. We are still experiencing a great season and looking forward to a very busy April & May. Please make any dinner reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance. Please be considerate to your fellow members and make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward. If you need a new name tag to put on your dashboard, please see me. Also know that we have overflow parking available north of the club at the Vernis & Bowling Building.

Sincerely,
Vinnie Feola (IFC General Manager)

Last year’s winners all received a free entry into this year’s event!

• Most Species - Gene Farrel
• Least Species - Ron Redding
• Longest Fish - Poppy Brownlee
• Shortest Fish - Betty Galardi
• Most of a Species - Miriam Marin & Ted Parker
• Most Unusual - Yolanda Marin & Cathy Roth
• Longest Fish Junior - Aiden Bronis & Galan
• Hardluck Tie - N/A
• Honorable Mention - N/A

Please register early, bring your friends and have a Bloody Mary on IFC.
Download the Bob Regan Bloody Mary Fishing Bash Entry Form (PDF)
 

Fellow Islamorada Fishing Club Members & Friends,

I am not sure if you are aware of the horrific disaster occurring throughout Florida’s Coastal areas since the polluted waters of Lake Okeechobee have been released into the Caloosahatchee and St Lucie Rivers. Florida Bay and the Everglades ecosystems are also on the verge of collapse and the reality needs to be urgently addressed.

I hope you will join us and learn what is happening and how you can help before it is too late.

Islamorada Fishing Club
Wednesday, March 30
5:00 pm to 6:30 pm

Presentation on Impending Crisis and Collapse of Florida Bay
for Islamorada Fishing Club Membership and Friends

1. Introduction of panel by Sandy Moret
2. Overview of the science, causes and solutions by Eric Eikenberg & Dr Steve Davis of the Everglades Foundation
3. Political realities and shrinking window of opportunity to repair by Michael Connor, & Michael Donovan of Bullsugar

Best,
Sandy Moret
Florida Keys Outfitters
Restore America's Everglades,
Water supply for nearly 8 million Floridians

Dear Members,

Thank you to all equity members who voted in this past election. We have some new board members and we welcome them to the IFC Board of Directors.
I would like to take this opportunity to invite All members to our annual Board of Directors Meeting on March 17th at 5pm This is an opportunity to meet your newly appointed officers, here the status of the club & have a brief overview of the past year.
Immediately following our annual meeting there will be a member appreciation party. This will be a members only event.
Now that it is high season, I would like to encourage all members to make your Dinner reservations at least 24 to 48 hours in advance. Please remember that we have limited window tables available & they are filled on a first come first serve basis. With our incredibly gorgeous weather, I encourage you to try our outdoor patio. We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered.
Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward. If you need a new name tag to put on your dashboard, please see me.
We also have over flow parking north of the club at the Vernis & Bowling Building.

Sincerely,
Vinnie Feola (IFC General Manager)

Dear Members,

Season is in full swing in Islamorada & here at the Club as well.  I would like to encourage all members to make your Dinner reservations a minimum of 24 hours in advance.  We will gratefully accept last minute reservations with time and space availability being considered. Members wishing to make arrangements for a private party or special event should contact me at the Club.  Please be considerate to your fellow members & make sure to have your parking/name card on your dashboard when you come to the club and park 3 deep pulling all the way forward.

Sincerely,
Vinnie

Sunday, February 14

{Appetizers}

• Oysters Ragu
• Braised Short Rib, Creamy Polenta

{Soup / Salad}

• Sweet Potato, Carrot, Ginger Bisque

• Organic Baby Greens, Blueberries, Hearts of Palm, Brie Cheese, Roasted Tomato Vinaigrette

{Entrées}

• Pan Seared Hogfish, Mushroom Duxelle Basil Champagne Sauce, Ratatouille Risotto, Green Beans

• Twin Tournedos, Sauce Perigueux, Roasted Fingerling Potato, Green Beans

• Seafood Valentine, Clams, Shrimp, Yellowtail, in a Creamy Lobster Sauce over Angel Hair Pasta

{Dessert}

• Chocolate Genoise Double Mousse

* Plus Tax & Gratuity
* Beverages not included
* Regular dinner menu not available this night

News Archive

Dear Friends,
It’s that time of year already. The 31st Annual Coastal Conservation Association Banquet & Auction invitation can be found below. Please reserve your seat early, as we sold out last year and it looks like we will again this year. Feel free to contact me with any questions. Hope to see you there!

Dianne Harbaugh
CCA Keys Chapter President
(305) 522-4868

Download the CCA Banquet & Auction Invitation (PDF)

$25,000.00 in cash plus prizes were awarded to Team One Up of Miami, winners of the 2016 Islamorada Fishing Clubs January Sailfish Tournament on January 21st with a field of 19 boats.  “We were very happy with the attendance this year. There were 84 sailfish released in this one day event.”  The awards that were presented was original Art by Jim Macmullen of Jimmy Mac Designs Winning trophies were presented to Anglers Rudy Espinosa SR, IFC member Doug Mientkiewicz, & Michelle Beltran with 8 releases on Time.  

Congratulations Art Fienberg! January’s Outstanding Catch: 36” 19 lb. Snook on 25 lb. Test. Art Was Fishing On The Tranquilizer V.

One Up Captain JC Cleare & His Mate Ryan were also awarded custom original trophies & a check for $25,000.00. Team One Up was also the winner of the 2016 Gold Cup Series with a combined 23 sailfish released on time. Last Dance fought their way into second place securing their spot also with 8 releases.  Anglers IFC Member Eric Akins, Robert Helms & Matt Mclean were given 2nd Place Trophies.  IFC Member Captain Robert Collins & mate Brandon took home trophies as well.

Captain Travis Dickens with Mate Mike on The Indigenious released 7 sailfish on time to take home third place honors. Once again original art was presented to anglers Annie Corbeel, Wade Stafford & Phillip Brian. “The Islamorada Fishing Club outdid themselves this time. I would like to commend the entire staff for a job well done. Our anglers loved the food, drink and good time we had.  The next tournament in the fishing club’s series is the June Dolphin Tournament.

For more information on the Islamorada Fishing Club visit us online at: www.theislamoradafishingclub.com.

Date: January 20 & 21, 2016

Kick-off - January 20, 2016
Fishing - January 21, 2016

The most sailfish caught and released determines the winners!
For more info call: (305) 664-4735
ENTRY FORM (PDF)

Attention Captains, Anglers & Mates, Don’t miss your chance to win up to $25,000.00 in prize money!

The Islamorada Fishing Clubs Sailfish Tournament kicks off on January 20th with fishing on January 21st. This is the final leg of the Gold Cup series and space is filling rapidly. So grab your fishing buddy and sign up today.

This one day all release sailfish tournament is limited to 30 boats. With a full field the prize money may be increased to $30,000.00. The tournament entry fee is $2,500.00 and $250.00 for a 3rd angler and includes 3 social ckets for each night.

Don’t miss out! Call the Club to enter today!

For more info call: (305) 664-4735
ENTRY FORM (PDF)

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Dear Members,

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!!! Now that season is here and with the Holidays behind us, we can all look forward to a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year. The Staff and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many members for their generous contributions to our Christmas Bonus Pool. Your generosity is deeply appreciated. It has been our pleasure to have served you this past year.

Sincerely,

Vinnie, Jeff, Chef Joseph, Sandy E, Connie, Annie, Lori, Sandy G, Jennifer, Lilly, Manes, Charlie, Anna & Madison

{Appetizers: Choice of One}

• Oyster Rockefeller
• Classic Shrimp Cocktail
• Soup or Salad

{Entrée: Choice of One}

• Rack of Lamb
• Shrimp & Scallop Filled Hogfish
• Filet Mignon

{Dessert: Choice of One}

• Triple Chocolate Marquis
• Three Berry Tart

* Does not include Tax and Gratuity
* Please call for reservations

TIS THE SEASON FOR SHARING AND GIVING!

THE ISLAMORADA FISHING CLUB is having a
Food Drive To Benefit The Islamorada Baptist Church.

ANY CANNED OR BOXED ITEM WILL BE ACCEPTED
Let’s all try to make some Family’s Christmas Plentiful!

Date: December 9, 2015

Dear Fellow Members and Friends,

The Holiday Season is here again and part of the tradition of our great Club is to show our trusted employees our appreciation by contributing toward the Holiday bonus pool.

In this edition of Shortcast, you will find an enclosed bonus slip that allows you to show your appreciation to our 14 hard working employees. We will also have slips available in the Club. Your generosity means a great deal to our employees. Quite often it is your generous gesture that makes all the difference for the employees and their families during the Holidays. Please take a moment to fill out the bonus slip with your contribution, or, just simply e-mail the Club at vinnie@theislamoradafishingclub.com and we will debit your account. Thank you all for being so generous to our employees. They appreciate it! I wish you and yours a happy, safe and healthy holiday.

Best regards, Cheryl Culberson (IFC President)

Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Closed / Lunch Only
 

The Holidays are right around the corner. We will be open this Thanksgiving 2015 with a bounty of delectable offerings from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm so please call us with your reservation. Don’t forget The Islamorada Fishing Club for your holiday party Please contact us to reserve your date and time for your family or company event.

Sincerely, Vinnie Feola (IFC General Manager)

• Roasted Turkey with Pan Dripping Gravy
• Spiral Ham
• Roast Prime Rib of Beef
• Mixed Green Salad
• Zucchini & Spinach Gateau
• Honey Glazed Baby Carrots
• Apple Sausage Stuffing
• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Cranberry Corn Bread
• Orange Cranberry Sauce
• Mashed Potatoes
• Desserts
• Pumpkin Cheesecake, Chocolate Pecan Pie,
• Dutch Apple Pie
• Coffee & Tea

* Does not include Tax and Service Charge Beverages not included
* Please call for reservations

Date: Thursday, November 19, 2015
 

"LOOKING THROUGH THE WATER"
A Novel by IFC Member Bob Rich

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Come get a Signed copy and talk with the Author. Bob will be signing his latest book from 5:30 to 7:30 Wednesday 11/18. The proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit Project Healing Waters that supports veterans on their journey to physical, emotional and spiritual Health.

IFC Calender - November 2015 (PDF)
 

Even though it was a blustery day, this year’s IFC Snook and Redfish Smack Down had some great anglers and some great fishing! 

Rob Preihs won overall Most Smack Downs with 13 combos of reds and snook! He also took home Most Snook Men at 13 and Most Reds Men with 16 fish.

Linda Denkert won Most Snook Women with 8 and Most Reds Women with one red and that was on time. Completing the awards roster is Asher Cockerham with Most Snook Junior Division releasing 7 nice snook. Everyone enjoyed Chef Joseph’s wonderful barbeque and ribs after a long day of fishing.

Look for next year’s IFC Snook and Redfish Smack Down coming in October 2016! Enter the family in the Men’s, Women’s or Junior Divisions!

Islamorada Fishing Club's 1st annual Smack Down Tournament was a great success and a lot of fun was had by all. 

Congratulations to Mike Venezia - Most Smack Downs, Rick Moeller - Most Snook, and Chelsea Moeller - Most Snook & Redfish Womens division.








 

$25,000.00 in cash plus prizes were awarded to Team Swagger of Islamorada, winners of the Islamorada Fishing Club’s January Sailfish Tournament on January 23rd with a field of 20 boats. “We were very happy with the attendance this year. There were 64 sailfish released in this one day event.” The awards that were presented were original wood boxes topped with a sailfish by Doug Berry.

Read more

COURT UPHOLDS FLORIDA'S NET BAN

Today, Florida's First District Court of Appeal issued an opinion upholding the net ban amendment...again.  CCA Florida once again led the charge to support the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) regulations implementing the Constitutional Amendment that was passed by 72% of the voters in 1994. 

The same small group of commercial gill netters that have filed one lawsuit after another were rebuffed in the appellate court after finding a sympathetic judge at the circuit court level.  The three judge appellate panel held that the trial judge, "...erred in determining [the netters] claims were not barred by [past legal precedent]".  They also held that the judge was wrong to allow the gill net season to open while the case was pending in the appellate courts. "This is a big win for all recreational anglers and CCA Florida will continue to be the outspoken advocate and protector of the Constitutional Amendment which has protected Florida's marine fisheries and the multibillion dollar economic value of fisheries to Florida's economy," said CCA Florida Chairman, Fred Crabill.

Last October, Florida waters were again open to the slaughter of illegal gill nets for six days, reminiscent of pre 1994 Florida where use of these nets devastated our near shore and inshore waters crushing recreational fishing for Redfish, Trout, Snook and other fishes.  The net ban has had dramatic effect on bringing bait back to our near shore waters, with the resulting increase in catches of pelagics like sailfish and cobia along the coast.

But, the fight may not be over.  It will be up to the netters whether or not to file an appeal at the next level, the Florida Supreme Court.  While legal scholars doubt the success of such an appeal given the reasoning by the First District Court of Appeals, stranger things have happened in the courts where gill nets are concerned.  After all, no one dreamed that the same gill net interests that have pushed this fight for twenty (20) years would find a willing judge last year

Read More: http://ccaflorida.org/