Miami area brothers are top anglers in fifth annual
Mercury/IGFA Junior Angler World Championship

By Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications, IGFA PR Counsel

Check final standings by clicking no the links below
Angler Points by Class   Anglers by Location   Points by Boat
Fish Count   Detailed Catch Info

New comers to the JAWC that had a great time! - Photo courtesy of IGFA

KEY WEST, Fla. – Two Miami area brothers, Joshua and Jake Shevlin topped a field of 35 other youngsters to win the junior and small fry divisions in the fifth annual Mercury/IGFA Junior Angler World Championship Tournament (JAWC), June 17 - 19.

Joshua Shevlin, 12, Bay Harbor, Fla., was both the junior division champion and the overall points champion netting a total of 401 points in the catch and release competition. He scored 266 points the first day and 135 the second releasing a total of 38 fish among 11 species.

Finishing second was Paul Sabayrac, 16, Palm Beach Gardens with 296 points and Chris Dillon, 16, Key Largo, Fla. was third with 287 points. The top junior girl was Tiffany Smith, 12, Port St. Lucie, Fla., with 231 points followed by Heather Harkavy, 11, Coral Springs, Fla., with 99 points.

Nick Ames, 15, Holly Hill, Fla., who finished fourth, led all anglers for the most species caught with 12 for his 267 points.

In the smallfry division Jake Shevlin, 8, was the top boy with a total of 281 points, 216 of the points coming on opening day. He caught a total of 31 fish among nine species. Finishing second was Tyler Smith, 9, Port St. Lucie, Fla., with 251 points and Robert O’Leary, 10, Morristown, N.J. in third with 247 points. The top girl in the small fry division was Rhea Gilbert, 9, Seminole, Fla. with 85 points.

The girls and boys, ages five to 16, qualified for the all-release championship by winning one of the IGFA approved fishing tournaments held in the U.S. and several countries. Anglers ages five -10 competed in the smallfry division; ages 11-16 in the junior division.

Rhea Gilbert won the Smallfry Female Top Day 1 scores, Top Day 2 scores and Stringer awards - Photo courtesy of IGFA

Among the 23 eligible species yellow tail snapper was the most prominent fish with 184 releases followed by dolphinfish (144) and barracuda 101.

The young contestants were accompanied by a parent and fished in pairs with another junior or small fry angler over two days for the 23 eligible five to 25 point species. The local Florida Keys captains were selected by the IGFA. Circle hooks were used with all live and dead bait.

Capt. Dave Esquinaldo won 1st place in the Top Captain Division - captain with the most points - Photo courtesy of IGFA

Capt. Dave Esquinaldo on the Quick Relief won the top award among the guides scoring 749 points over the two days through the points of the junior anglers he had aboard. Capt. Robert Trosset on the Spind Drift was second with 609 points and Capt. Jim Thomas on the Tightlines was third with 449 points.

There’s was no minimum length for eligible species, but a maximum of three fish of each species per day could be counted by each contestant. Any other fish are awarded two points each with a maximum of three per species and a minimum of 12 inches in length.

A total of 22 awards were presented including the top three scoring captains.

Besides title sponsor Mercury Marine, other sponsors included Shimano, Plano, Double Tree Grand Key Resort, Kings Pointe Marina, Rapala, King Sailfish Mounts, Conchy Joe’s Bait and Tackle, Reel Life Art, Publix, Pelagic Gear, Daiichi, Lipper Tools, Glenda and Pat Kelley and Gene and Bill DuVal and Hook the Future.

The junior tournament mirrored two other world-class IGFA fishing championships. The eighth annual IGFA Offshore World Championship was held in Mexico in May, with teams of winners advancing from over 130 qualifying tournaments in 40 countries around the world. Meanwhile, the seventh annual IGFA Inshore World Championship will be held July 8 - 11 in Islamorada, Fla., with 28 light tackle and fly competitors -- some coming from as far away as Africa and Australia after winning one of more than 55 selected tournaments around the world.

This was the final year of the junior angler championship as the IGFA expands its junior angler program with more fun and educational fishing clinics and events reaching out to more youngsters in more areas of the world.

The IGFA Junior Angler World Championship has been a great success,” said IGFA coordinator and tournament director Peter Gaube. “But in the last five years, we’ve witnessed the positive influence and potential of the IGFA Junior Angler Program through educational programs and clinics.” 

From those efforts the IGFA has developed a plan to allow the Junior Angler Program to reach more young anglers globally. 

Tiffany Smith, happy to have finally caught her first dolphin, as well as taking home Junior Female Stringer award, Top Junior Female Day 1, and Top Junior Female Day 2 - Photo courtesy of IGFA

The IGFA junior angler program also recognizes separate world records for boys and girls in over 200 species of salt and freshwater fish. The IGFA has Junior Angler Club members in over 50 countries.

For more additional information about the Junior Angler Program, please contact Dawn Walker at 954-924-4335 or dwalker@igfa.org. 

Founded in 1939, the IGFA is a not for profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping. IGFA members are located in over 125 countries and territories. The IGFA welcomes visitors to its 60,000-sq.ft. interactive Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum.

For further information, contact the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, Florida 33004; phone 954-927-2628, fax: 954-924-4299, website: www.igfa.org.

Notes and Quotes from the Mercury/IGFA Junior Angler World Championship:

“What a great tournament!! This was the largest field of anglers in the Mercury/IGFA Junior Angler World Championship history with 37 youngsters. With anglers coming from as far as Barbados, Jamaica and Southern California, the fifth Annual tournament of champions was a huge success.” IGFA coordinator and Junior Angler Tournament Director Peter Gaube.

Impressive catches included an estimated 37 lb blackfin tuna by Josh Shevlin, which would have broken the current junior record, onboard the Got ta Go with Capt. RobHarris, and a 46.5 lb cobia caught by Paul Sabayrac on Triple J with Capt Jason Johnson.

“Today was the most fun we have ever had on the water. Our dads had such a blast watching us catch fish that they were running around like little kids.” James Lechler of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Joe Jenkins Jr. of Elizabeth City, N.C.

“Every one of these kids are champions, they should all be proud of what they achieved to make it this far.” Scott Beattie, Mercury Marine Technical Support and Marketing Division

“My goal in this tournament was to catch my first Dolphin fish and to beat my brother; I did both of those on the first day. After that we were just out to have a great time, and we did!” Tiffany Smith of Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Josh Proverb, our angler from Barbados - Photo courtesy of IGFA

"I expected this tournament to be a new experience, but what I learned from the local guides will be of great use back home. We will now be able to target new and unique fisheries in Barbados.” Josh Proverbs of Barbados.

Anglers points by class

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Points by Boat

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Fish Count

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Detailed Catch Info

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