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Few events in sport fishing carry the weight of history quite like the Silver Sailfish Derby, and the 89th annual running once again delivered classic South Florida sailfishing under the banner of the prestigious West Palm Beach Fishing Club—the world’s oldest sailfish tournament and one of the sport’s true pillars.
When the dust settled amongst the 50-boat fleet after two competitive days on the water, it was Native Son, captained by Art Sapp, that stood atop the leaderboard as Top Boat, tallying eight sailfish releases to secure the overall victory.
For those familiar with the South Florida sailfish circuit, the result came as little surprise. Art Sapp is no stranger to the winner’s circle, and Native Son’s latest Silver Sailfish Derby title adds yet another accolade to an already impressive résumé.
Close behind, Priceless, captained by Jorge Sanchez, finished second overall with seven releases, while No Choos/Reel Intense (Capt. Weston Russell) and Goombay Smash (Capt. Nicolas Vidal) each posted six sailfish, rounding out a tightly contested Top Boats leaderboard. Goombay Smash also earned Top Small Boat (35 feet or less) honors.
On the individual side, Matthew Rodriguez delivered a standout performance to claim Top Angler, releasing five sailfish aboard Priceless. His effort also earned him the Mrs. Henry R. Rea Trophy, awarded to the angler with the most overall releases. Keith McDonald finished second among anglers with four releases, followed by Darrell Davidson and Darren Newhart, each with three.
The next generation of anglers was well represented, with Logan Hall (14) taking Top Junior Angler honors, while Morgan Smith earned recognition as Top Lady Angler with two sailfish releases.
Across both days, the fleet combined for 106 total sailfish releases, including 13 tagged fish, reinforcing the Derby’s continued emphasis on conservation and responsible angling. Daily honors went to Native Son on Day One and Reel Easy on Day Two, while standout weight-fish performances came from Billy Vanderhorn, whose 36.70-pound kingfish earned Overall Grand Champion Eligible Weight Fish.
As it has for nearly nine decades, the Silver Sailfish Derby once again blended tradition, competition and camaraderie—proving that even in its 89th year, the world’s oldest sailfish tournament remains as relevant and respected as ever.
