Back in 1960 my great grandfather participated in a tournament. Last year I received this plaque from my mom. I loved it when I saw it as a kid and never knew what happened to it. My mom moved and she found it while unpacking. I never met my great grandfather. He passed away before I was born.
I’ve been told from both my grandmother and mother that he was a hell of a fisherman. He had to have been really into fishing to go from East Chicago Indiana to Miami to fish a tournament back in 1960.
I found a google newspaper scan of The Montreal Gazette that makes mention of the tournament. Here’s the link: The Montreal Gazette December 10th, 1960 Look right below MIAMI for the mention of the tournament. I’ve searched before and never found anything that gave me an idea of exactly when it was.
I sit and try to picture the weather, the scenery, the cars, the boats. It actually makes me kind of sad I never was able to meet this man. They tell me that we’d have gotten along really well. I believe we would have. Any man who was into catch and release in 1960 is a-ok in my book.
Brent Wilson said, What an awesome memento. Agreed re: the C&R ethic in the 1960’s.
I grew up in Miami and my grandfather used to tell me stories about how unreal the fishing was in Miami and the keys back in those days.
In reply to Brent Wilson, Dave said, So cool. I bet it was amazing. Nothing better than hearing stories from the “good ol’ days”.
Martha Saconchik-Pytel said, You” find many stories like the above on my soon-to-be published book, Baker’s Haulover, A Maritime Treasure of History and Pioneers. Send me your e-mail if you would like to have a place on the mailing list.
Martha Saconchik-Pytel
Legacy Key Book, LLC
Tallahassee, Florida
Randy Companion said, Our grandfather also received , and we have the plaque Metropolitan Sportfishing Award Looking for any more info that may be available 1964
In reply to Randy Companion, Dave said, Hi Randy,
What I’d found there was about all I can find. That old newspaper article from Canada has so far been the most information I’ve seen. I’d asked my grandmother, but she didn’t really remember him talking about it other than him going to it. It’d be cool to see if there was more info out there about this tournament.
Betty Jean Driskell said, I have a Metropolitan Miami Fishing Tournament Certificate awarded April
17th, 1950 to my Father, South Haddix for a 68 lb. Amberjack. We were Miami residence and he fished about 3 times a week on a party boat out of
axel mommerency said, Hi, i’m in the posession of the 3 following documents awarded by the Miami Beach Sailfish Club to Maj. HENRI J. LESIEUR :
10th metropolitan miami fishing tournament (1945)
16th metropolitan miami fishing tournament (1951)
Membership (1945)
HENRI J. LESIEUR (1901-1994) wasa French aviator pilot during WW2 and was overseas manager forAir France in the Us , the documents belongd to him.
one of the documents is signed by John H. Levi legendary major and one of the founders of Miami Beach.
Another is signed by Frank M. O’Brien
I have pictures of the pieces and was wondering if they are worth anything? I’m from Belgium by the way….