The Tradition Continues: SSC Annual Release & Conservation Honors Return

For generations, the Stuart Sailfish Club has stood for more than competition. It has stood for conservation, integrity, and respect for the fishery.

In that same spirit, we’re proud to officially reintroduce a tradition rooted in the Club’s history with the return of the SSC Annual Release & Conservation Honors: a program designed to recognize members who exemplify excellence through verified sailfish releases and ethical tagging.

These honors celebrate the anglers, captains, mates, and vessels who continue to uphold the values that have defined the Stuart Sailfish Club since 1941.

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A Program Grounded in History and Stewardship

The SSC Annual Release & Conservation Honors are recognition-based awards that reflect the Club’s longstanding commitment to responsible sportfishing. Long before catch-and-release became widely practiced, SSC members were helping set the standard for ethical angling in our local waters.

By formally documenting releases and tags, this program ensures that today’s efforts are preserved in the Club’s permanent records—creating a living history of participation, conservation success, and sportsmanship.

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Eligibility at a Glance

To ensure fairness and consistency, eligibility for the Annual Honors includes:

• Active SSC membership in good standing by April 1 of the award year
• Releases and tags recorded in U.S. waters off Florida’s East Coast
• Non-monetary awards (trophies only)
• Points accumulated across the calendar year

Full award categories, scoring details, and verification requirements are outlined on the Annual Release & Conservation Honors page.

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Logging Your Releases

As part of the program rollout, members can now submit verified releases and tags using a simple submission form to ensure no qualifying activity is missed. This allows the Tournament Committee to review, verify, and properly record each entry.

An official SSC Catch Log Member Portal is currently in development and will launch by February 1, streamlining release and tag logging moving forward.

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Why Participation Matters

Every submission helps preserve the legacy of the Stuart Sailfish Club. Verified releases are not only recognized annually, they become part of the Club’s permanent historical records, honoring the individuals and vessels that continue to lead by example.

This program exists to celebrate the practices that built this club: ethical angling, conservation leadership, and pride in our local fishery.

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Learn More & Submit a Release

Members are encouraged to explore the full program details, eligibility requirements, and submission process, and to log qualifying releases as they occur.

Learn more about the SSC Annual Release & Conservation Honors and submit a release

The tradition continues.