Dream Weaver wins Marathon dolphin tournament despite stormy offshore conditions

Storm clouds and driving rain did not keep 53 boats from chasing mahi, tuna, wahoo and tripletail off Marathon in the 20th annual Tom Thumb Marathon Offshore Bull & Cow Dolphin Tournament, where Team Dream Weaver won the top overall prize with a 68.6-pound combined bull-and-cow catch.

Dream Weaver’s haul earned a $20,000 payday and put the boat ahead of Team Ms. Cheryl, which finished second overall with 59.8 pounds. Team Memory Maker landed one of the weekend’s biggest standout catches, a 19.7-pound wahoo, as the tournament spread its awards across multiple species and categories.

The final celebration moved ashore to Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters, where more than $30,000 in cash prizes and trophies were handed out. Along with the top overall finish and wahoo prize, the tournament recognized the largest bull dolphin, largest cow dolphin, largest blackfin tuna and top female and junior angler honors, a structure that keeps more crews in the hunt even when the weather turns rough.

That mix of competition and community has helped make the derby a fixture in Marathon since it began in 2006. The event has also shown the draw of the Middle Keys offshore fishery: in 2022, it brought 79 boats and 632 anglers, and in 2024 it drew more than 500 anglers. Even with a smaller field this year, the 53-boat turnout still sent crews, captains and supporters through the local fishing economy, from marinas and bait counters to restaurants and hotel rooms.

Organizer Jack Carlson has previously framed the tournament as more than a payout chase, saying it supports the legal and ethical harvesting of fish and backs marine conservation groups including CCA Florida and The Billfish Foundation. The derby’s prize structure has long been part of its appeal, with earlier editions offering a guaranteed grand prize that could grow as more boats entered.

For Marathon, the storm-soaked weekend underscored a familiar local pattern: conditions can be ugly, but when the fish are running, the community still shows up.