2019 Jimmy Johnson’s “Quest for the Ring” Championship Fishing Week

2019 Jimmy Johnson’s “Quest for the Ring” Championship Fishing Week Is Back with the World’s RICHEST Guaranteed Purse: March 2-9, 2019.

#JJFishWeek Takes Place March 2-9, 2019 in Key Largo, Fla. featuring the 2-Day National Billfish Championship, a $1.75 Million Guaranteed Purse in Partnership with Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., a Catch & Release Division and an all new Weighted Division. 

KEY LARGO, Fla. (January 20, 2019) – Brought to you by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., the 8th Annual Jimmy Johnson’s “Quest for the Ring” Championship Fishing Week will take over Key Largo, Fla. March 2-9, 2019. The annual 4-day fishing tournament includes the 1-Day Celebrity Charitable Pro Am and the 2-day Billfish Championship. Hosted by Contender Boats, powered by Yamaha and fueled by the newest presenting sponsor, Papa’s Pilar Rum, the 2-Day Billfish Championship features a Catch & Release Division, an all new Weighted Division and, in partnership with Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, the World’s RICHEST guaranteed purse of $1.75 million. 

2019 Update: As of January 8, 2019: Only 15 fishing entry spots remain.

Competitive anglers from around the country will join together for another historic event in the beautiful setting of Key Largo, in the Florida Keys.  Renowned for the best parties, the highest purse and the ultimate week of fishing, tournament highlights include celebrity charity days and highly competitive tournament showdowns. The 2-Day Billfish Championship prize structure is set and the guaranteed purse offers this year’s champions the chance to win one or more of 60 payouts at the 2019 National Billfish Championship. The final entry opportunity will be at the end of the Captain’s meeting on Wednesday, March 6, if spots are still available.

Jimmy Johnson’s “Quest for the Ring” Championship Fishing Week is “all about the ring!” according to Coach Johnson. Each year teams vie for entrance into the highly coveted Ring of Honor, an elite group of champions who have taken home the top prize at this exciting competition. Members include Hardway, 4 Aces, Weez In the Keys, Native Son, Rock Star, Astra Sails and Sandman, the newest member. Each year the overall champions receive Jimmy’s famed National Championship Ring.

As Johnson stated, to over 800 people at last year’s BIG CHILL Awards Party, “The best wasn’t the Super Bowl, the best was not University of Miami, the best is right now! These teams are part of THE BEST. We continue to grow each year and I am thrilled to have our partners at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood join us as we showcase the thrilling challenge of sportfishing. We look forward to seeing everyone in March!”

Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill Restaurant at MM 104 in Key Largo hosts the week long festivities. Guest accommodations can be made at Marriott Key Largo and Ocean Reef Club, among other locations. The kick-off event takes place on Saturday, March 2, at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, where anglers will be decked out head-to-toe with over $5,000 worth of fishing gear at the Gifting Experience before heading out to the ultimate Poolside Celebration. Then, the tournament takes over Key Largo starting March 6.

The 2019 JJ’s Quest for the Ring Championship Fishing Week Schedule includes the following events:

  • Saturday, March 2: Angler Gifting Experience & Poolside Celebration at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hollywood, Fla.
  • Wednesday, March 6: Packet Pick Up Kick Off & Captain’s Meeting at The Big Chill for JJ’s Celebrity Pro-Am and JJ’s National Billfish Championship.
  • Thursday, March 7: JJ’s Celebrity Pro-Am, where Jimmy’s friends, celebrity athletes and entertainers will join the pros for a fun-filled day of competitive fishing in support of their favorite charities. That evening JJ’s Ring of Honor Champions dinner will be held at Ocean Reef Club.
  • Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9: Registered anglers head out for two days of competitive fishing in the history-making National Billfish Championship
  • Saturday, March 9, 6 p.m.: All tournaments culminate with a celebratory awards dinner and pool party as JJ’s Backyard BBQ takes over JJ’s Bill Chill. Participating anglers join together as over $1.75 million in prize money is awarded while overlooking the waters of the Florida Keys.

“Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is thrilled to once again be the presenting sponsor for Jimmy Johnson’s “Quest for the Ring” Championship Fishing Week. This tournament is undoubtedly the most dynamic, fun-filled and exciting sport fishing competition in all of Florida.  With this year’s guaranteed prize purse of $1.75 million, every team will be pulling out all the stops to hook a prize-winning fish,” said Auggie Cipollini, president of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. “From the kick-off Gifting Experience & Poolside Celebration at Hard Rock to the Ring of Honor awards presentation at the final dinner and all the parties and fishing in between, this is definitely a tournament that any serious angler needs to be a part of. We are pleased to support our good friend, Coach Jimmy Johnson, and the week-long festivities that generate much needed funds for a number of worthy charities.”

Contender Boats is the official center console boat sponsor and a presenting sponsor of the tournament along with the official outboard sponsor, Yamaha, and official spirits partner, Papa’s Pilar. Hosting sponsors include Monroe County Tourism Development Council, Oakley Prizm, American Custom Yachts, Tunaskin and Grundens, who outfit the tournament anglers from head to toe on March 2nd. Official retail partner is Crook & Crook and the official tournament artist is Dennis Friel Art Studios. Additional sponsors are Land Rover South Dade, FLEX Auto, Garmin, Heineken Light, Papa’s Raw Bar, EDBL, Cuda and Celebrity Cruises among others.

“Papa’s Pilar is thrilled to continue its partnership with and participation in the Jimmy Johnson ‘Quest for the Ring’ Tournament,” said Steve Groth, Founder of Papa’s Pilar Rum. “Our dark and blonde rums were inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s spirit of adventure and we hope you’re just as inspired during this year’s event.”

Boat Entry information and the full schedule of events can be found at www.jjfishweek.com. Registration can be completed on the tournament website or by contacting the tournament office at info@jjfishweek.com or 305-255-3500 for more information.

Be sure to follow @JJFishWeek on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for up to date tournament information.

About Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring National Championship Fishing Week.    
Jimmy Johnson’s National Championship Fishing Week, managed by CI Management, features 3 Championships at Stake with 3 rings to win, all in one week in Key Largo, Fl. The tournament week features the 2-Day history making National Billfish Championship, 1-Day National Sportfish Championship, and the 1-Day Celebrity Pro-Am.  Jimmy Johnson hosts a week of events for 100+ teams who join together for this competitive week of fishing in the Upper Florida Keys. There is the billfish tournament and a fun fish tournament as well as a celebrity component for Jimmy’s friends and colleagues. A highlight of the billfish tournament season, this week of events has a little taste for everyone as top anglers join together for what is a always a good time with guaranteed great fishing and guaranteed prize money in Key Largo, Fl. For more information, visit www.jjfishweek.com or email us at info@jjfishweek.com. Follow us online @JJFishWeek on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is the flagship casino resort of Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.  It is a world-renowned entertainment, gaming and hospitality destination that features a AAA Four Diamond-rated luxury hotel; expansive gaming offerings including first-in-class slots, high-stakes table games and South Florida’s premier poker room; spa and fitness center; award-winning dining and nightlife; and the popular Hard Rock Event Center which hosts A-list entertainers, comedy and sporting events. A $1.5 billion expansion slated to open in fall 2019 will bring 638 luxury guestrooms to a first-ever, iconic, guitar-shaped hotel and 168 upscale guest accommodations in an adjacent hotel tower overlooking a lush, “Bora Bora” style, private cabana environment; a 41,000 square-foot Rock Spa®; a 13.5 acre recreational water-focused experience for sunbathing, swimming, kayaking, sailing and paddle boarding; 30 distinctive  restaurants, bars and lounges; an expanded gaming floor featuring 3,000 slots, 193 table games and a 46-table poker room; 120,000 square feet of premier meeting and convention space; and 21,000 square feet of new retail space.  The highly anticipated 6,500 seat Hard Rock Live theater-style concert venue will feature headline performances and live broadcast capabilities.  The resort is located on 87 acres of the Hollywood Seminole Reservation along State Road 7, (U.S. Highway 441). The resort is 10 minutes from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Miami and Miami International Airport. For more information, visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com, call 800-937-0010 or follow us: Facebook: SeminoleHardRockHollywood, Twitter: @HardRockHolly, Instagram: @HardRockHolly