KEY WEST — Dan Zicari thought he'd made a poor showing during the 12th annual Mercury Outboards' Southernmost Light-Tackle Anglers Masters tournament, held Thursday through Sunday out of Key West. However, much to his surprise, the Vero Beach, Fla., resident was named the tournament's grand champion angler.

Zicari, who fished with his lifelong friend, Captain Mark Krowka of Davie, Fla., won the S.L.A.M. for catching and releasing a grand slam — a tarpon, permit and bonefish — as well as a second tarpon and bonefish.

"We didn't think we'd won because there were five other anglers who were slam candidates. They all had two species the first day," said Zicari, who caught two tarpon and a permit during Saturday's fishing and two bonefish Sunday morning. "But when we came in, we discovered they hadn't slammed, so we won."

The only other angler in the tournament to catch a grand slam was Robert Collins of Naples, Fla., a former Key West guide. Fishing with Captain Dave Denkert of Miami, he earned the title of pro celebrity grand champion angler.

Miami resident Carmel Cafiero, an investigative reporter for Miami's WSVN Channel 7, was named celebrity grand champion. Guided by Captain Jeff Johnson of Tavernier, Fla., she caught a bonefish and a permit to beat the celebrity runner up, former Miami Dolphins lineman Eric Laakso, on time. Laakso, of Parkland, Fla., also caught a bonefish and a permit, but Cafiero got her permit an hour before Laakso captured his.

The tournament's team grand champion anglers were Jim Bokor of Tavernier, Fla., and his celebrity partner, New York Giants great Tucker Frederickson of North Palm Beach, Fla. The duo was guided by Captain Tim Hoover of Marathon, Fla.

The tournament's first runner-up angler was Tim Mahaffey of Plantation, Fla., guided by Captain Rick Murphy of Homestead, Fla. Mahaffey, who caught two tarpon during Saturday's fishing, also took top honors in the fly division.

Kal Blumberg of Fort Lauderdale, guided by Captain Tom Rowland of Key West, was spin/plug division champion while Zicari took the general division championship.

Part of the Mercury Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series, the S.L.A.M. drew 34 boats and is one of four annual Florida Keys fishing fundraisers that benefit cystic fibrosis research. The series continues with the 11th annual Mercury Baybone Celebrity Tournament at Key Largo, scheduled Sept. 28-30, targeting bonefish and permit. The 14th annual Mercury/Cheeca Redbone Celebrity Tournament, targeting redfish and bonefish, is set for Nov. 2-4 in Islamorada.

Zicari, who won the Mercury Redbone series championship last year, now
stands at 1,000 points. Mahaffey follows with 750 points, while Bokor and
Blumberg have 500 and 250 points, respectively.

Since their inception, the Redbone tournaments have raised more than $2 million for cystic fibrosis research. For more information about the Mercury Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series, call (305) 664-2002.

2001 Mercury Outboards' S.L.A.M. Tournament Results

Grand Champion Angler: Dan Zicari, Vero Beach, Fla., guided by Captain Mark Krowka, Davie, Fla.

Celebrity Grand Champion: Carmel Cafiero, Miami, guided by Captain Jeff Johnson, Tavernier, Fla.

Pro-Celebrity Grand Champion Angler: Robert Collins, Naples, Fla., guided by Captain Dave Denkert, Miami.

Team Grand Champion Anglers: Jim Bokor, Tavernier, Fla., and Tucker Frederickson, North Palm Beach, Fla., guided by Captain Tim Hoover, Marathon, Fla.

First Runner-Up Angler: Tim Mahaffey, Plantation, Fla., guided by Captain Rick Murphy, Homestead, Fla.

First Runner-Up Celebrity: Eric Laakso, Parkland, Fla., guided by Captain Craig Brewer, Islamorada, Fla.

First Runner-Up Team: John Riegor, Marathon, Fla., and Pete Johnson,
Scottsdale, Ariz., guided by Captain Rich Tudor, Islamorada, Fla.

Spin/Plug Division Champion: Kal Blumberg, Ft. Lauderdale, guided by Captain Tom Rowland, Key West.

Fly Division Champion: Tim Mahaffey, Plantation, Fla., guided by Captain Rick
Murphy, Homestead, Fla.

General Division Champion: Dan Zicari, Vero Beach, Fla., guided by Captain Mark Krowka, Davie, Fla.