ESPN Freshwater

MONTAUK, Long Island, N.Y. — A marine artist from the Florida Keys won not only the grand champion angler title in the Boomer Esiason Foundation F.C.A. Montauk Slam along with a Rolex watch and Roger Fowler sculpted trophy, but also saw much of his own donated giclée artwork presented to other division winners.

Tim Borski, Tavernier, Fla., collected 1,900 points in the Redbone@Large tournament series event fishing mostly on fly, catching four albies (false albacore), seven bluefish and two striped bass. His guide, Capt. Paul Dixon, East Hampton, N.Y., won a Tim Borski Montauk Slam giclée.

The runner-up angler was Art Bokor, who also scored as the top rod angler for both days. He was named the spin/plug division champion and recorded the most bluefish and albie releases. He was guided by Capt. Chris Jensen of Hope, N.J.

Bokor with Joe Keris, both of Robinsville, N.J., were named runner-up team finishing just 150 points behind the grand champion anglers David Collier, of New York with his father Cal Collier Sr. of Lake Forest, Illinois.

The Colliers totaled 2,800 points and were guided by Capt. Brendan McCarthy, of New York. David Collier also won honors as the fly division champion and for most striper releases

Baseball hall of famer, Wade Boggs, a former member of the New York Yankees, repeated with a win as celebrity grand champion, guided by Capt. Frank Crescitelli of Staten Island, N.Y.

As grand champions, both Borski and Boggs qualified to compete in the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Inshore World Championship next year in the Florida Keys.

Other winners included New York's Mike Hill, and John Mannix, for largest striper (40"), and biggest blue (34 ") respectively, and Jim Novinger, Harrisburg, Pa., for the largest albie (30"). A newcomer to fishing, Hill also scored Nor' East Grand Slams (albie, striper and blue) both days.

A total of 289 fish were caught and released including 108 bluefish, 21 stripers and 160 albies.

In partnership with the Redbone and the Fishermen's Conservation Association (FCA), money from the sixth annual tournament held Sept. 19-21 at the Montauk Yacht Club, will be presented by the Redbone to the New York based Boomer Esiason Foundation for its scholarship program for students with cystic fibrosis.

More than $41,000 alone was raised in the live auction held at the tournament which attracted 66 anglers and guides. The BEF and the Redbone have long been involved with raising millions of dollars for CF research.

NFL and collegiate football great Dave Rimington, who is also president of BEF said, "For two decades the Redbone fishing events, created by Capt. Gary and Susan Ellis, have played a major role in creating awareness for finding a cure for CF. Though there is still no cure, research and therapeutic developments have increased the lifespan of CF patients and the need for a scholarship program for these students has emerged. We're delighted to be involved with the Redbone in these and other fishing tournaments."

Dates for next year's Montauk Slam are set for September 24-26 2008.

In addition to Montauk, BEF and the Redbone will be partnering with two other celebrity tournaments which include the Deep Water Cay Bonefish Classic at Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas, Nov. 16-19, and the Over the Hill Sailfish Tournament at Islamorada, Fla., Jan. 21-22, 2008.

BEF also has its own fishing competition the Costa Rica Classic Billfish Tournament, with the actual two fishing days on March 28-29, 2008. The celebrity tournament is limited to 100 registrants of two to six person teams fishing for sailfish and marlin from the Los Suenos Resort. All proceeds from the CRC help benefit children in Costa Rica who are afflicted with CF with BEF providing needed medicines. The winning team will receive paid registrations for a team of four to compete in the two prestigious Los Suenos Signature Billfish Series tournaments in 2009 valued at $10,000.

Registration per angler is $700 and sponsorship opportunities are also available.

For more information on the Redbone events go to its web site at www.redbone.org or call the Redbone offices at 305-664-2002.

For more information on the Costa Rica Classic please go to www.costaricaclassic.com on the Boomer Esiason Foundation website www.esiason.org or call Mike Hill at 212-525-7777 or leave a message on the CRC Hotline at 800-317-5378.