REFUGE/DDWS A few spots remain to participate in the 12th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament on May 10.

The 12th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament raised $125,000 for conservation and water quality research at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel.

The sold-out May 10 tourney attracted 60 teams and 245 anglers — including 27 senior anglers, 30 women and 11 amateur teams — vying for bragging rights and over $62,000 in cash prizes.

Salt Rock’s Jason Capra, Cody Chivas, Caleb Dumas, Peter Frederiksen and Brian Timmons landed six tarpons, winning first place and $28,080. Also catching six silver kings was SP Designs, claiming second place and $15,600. Additional winners were: third place Sea Reaper Sportfishing, with $9,360; fourth place TowBoatU.S., with $6,260; and fifth place Tarpon Travelers, with $3,120. Twenty-three teams caught 47 tarpon in total.

Awards were also presented to amateur team Maastricht Engineering/Windows Plus, female angler Jasmine Constantine of TowBoatU.S., and senior angler Phil Pica of SP Designs.

Founded by Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, the tournament has raised nearly $1.3 million since its inception in 2012 to support the refuge and nearly $440,000 has been awarded to top finishers.

“We thank this year’s anglers, our many event sponsors and donors who continue to make the annual tournament a successful fundraiser for the wildlife refuge,” HM Restaurant Group partner Joe Harrity, parent company of Doc Ford’s and the Dixie Fish Company said. “Since the 1940s, this special place has symbolized local and national efforts to protect and enhance critical wildlife habitat while addressing present-day and future concerns for conservation, education and water and wildlife research. Money raised from the tournament has a meaningful impact in our community.”