[Sam]

A 17-year old local Florida Keys angler turned a few heads among the world class fly and light tackle champions he has competing with by taking the first day lead in the IGFA Inshore World Championship in Islamorada.

Richard Black of Tavernier shot out in front of the 28-angler field with 800 points on the release of eight fish in three of the five species.

In his first world championship, Black, the youngest competitor among the 22 men and six women, caught two bonefish on bait, and followed that up with three snook and three reds on artificial bait in the afternoon. When asked his success, Black said, `I fish a lot.''

Black who qualified for the championship by winning the IGFA-sanctioned Islamorada Fishing Club RedGhost Stalk Tournament, said the bonefish were caught in Florida Bay west of Islamorada, and the snook and reds in the back country waters near Flamingo.

''He impressed quite a few Keys anglers if not the entire field,'' IGFA IWC tournament director Mike Myatt said.
The three-day seventh annual IGFA IWC runs through Wednesday.
In second place with 625 points is former champion Robert Collins of Naples.

Collins, who won the title in 2005 and was the first angler to score two slams of fish in the championship, said they didn't see a lot of fish. In third is former astronaut Bruce Melnick of Inglis, who had 575 points.

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