provided to The Santiva Chronicle

Registration is now open and sponsorships are available for the 14th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament scheduled for Friday, May 15, at Sanibel’s J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The all-day event, sponsored by Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille and the nonprofit J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, has raised over $1.57 million for the refuge since the tourney’s inception in 2012, including last year’s record-breaking $266,780.

“The tournament and our sponsors have made a lasting impact on the community by supporting the mission of the J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge,” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group, the parent company of Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille. “We encourage local businesses and individuals to join us in sponsoring this worthwhile cause.”

Honoring the refuge as the first recorded location of a tarpon caught on a rod and reel and celebrating Southwest Florida’s history of fishing, the tournament attracts anglers from across the country, who gather to chase the prized silver king and protect local waters. The event made history last year with 89 tarpon hooked and released, 61 teams and over 250 anglers competing, and the record donation, which doubled 2024’s total, for water-quality research, habitat restoration and wildlife protection.

Presented by title sponsor Doc Ford’s and the J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, the catch-and-release tourney is the first of its kind benefiting conservation and presenting 100% of all entry fee proceeds to winners. The competition raises funds for the refuge through sponsorships, cash and in-kind donations. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Angeli Chin at angeli@dingdarlingsociety.org.

The 6,470-acre national refuge, part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the U.S., is highly regarded globally for its migratory bird populations and bird-watching opportunities.

Online registration for the 14th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament is open here and limited to 60 teams. Entry fees are $1,000 per boat for four anglers and $150 per person for two additional anglers, with no more than six per boat. Prize money is awarded to the top five finishers catching the most tarpon with the top female and senior anglers and amateur teams receiving non-cash awards. Over $500,000 has been awarded during the 13-year history of the competition, with winning teams sharing $65,400 in prizes in 2025.

“The tournament has been instrumental in advancing our conservation efforts and raising awareness of our mission for over a decade,” said Jeff Decker, philanthropic director for “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society. “It showcases the resolve of a community in protecting its natural resources.”

The Spartan Stix team won the 13th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament and $29,430 for catching seven tarpons during the May 9, 2025, event.

The Szymanczyk family is this year’s champion tournament sponsor. Presenting sponsors include Captiva Divas, Diversified Yacht Services, and David and Judy Baum. Captain Shawn Kelly Fishing Charters, Custom Tees Now, Gary and Cheryl Biltgen, Pacifico Clara and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank are 2026 platinum sponsors. Gold sponsors include Fort Myers Marine, Hightower wealth management, the law office of Janet M. Strickland, RS Walsh Landscaping and Trophy Case of Fort Myers. The Bait Box is this year’s silver sponsor.

Committed to conservation, community, education and the environment, HM Restaurant Group supports a number of other Sanibel nonprofit organizations, including F.I.S.H. of SANCAP, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and Sanibel CARES. The company also raises money for children’s hospitals in Fort Myers and St. Petersburg and Captains For Clean Water through sales of specialty drinks at Doc Ford’s.

HM Restaurant Group owns and operates Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and renowned for delivering a legendary guest experience. With four locations, including Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach and two in St. Petersburg, award-winning Doc Ford’s offers food with a unique balance of flavors inspired by the Caribbean Rim. Beloved for its sauces, spices and signature Yucatán shrimp served daily, it’s highly regarded by locals and visitors alike as a spectacular seafood restaurant.

The restaurant is a perennial Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice winner. The St. Petersburg Pier location was named the nation’s No. 1 restaurant for Best of the Best Restaurants for Everyday Eats in 2023.

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