Wednesday February 26, 2020, the angling community lost a true hero of the sport. Capt. Gary Ellis passed away at the age of 79.

Although he guided anglers for both conventional and fly fishing in the Florida Keys, it was his work with the Redbone Tournament Series that will be his true legacy. When his daughter Nicole was born with cystic fibrosis in 1985, Gary and his wife Susan began a campaign to find a cure for the childhood disease. During the next 30 plus years they have raised more than $30 million for research that has expanded the life expectancy for victims by several decades. Today Nicole is healthy and happily married.

The vehicle for the fundraising has been the original Redbone Tournament in Islamorada that targets redfish and bonefish with catch-and-release angling. That tournament also spawned the Redbone At Large series that has spread along the coasts and even into the interior waters of the nation.

The beginnings of the Redbone were at the Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar in Islamorada, when Ellis convinced some clients and friends to put on the first charity event in 1988. Among those initial anglers was baseball legend Ted Williams, sports announcer Curt Gowdy and singer, actor and comedian Phil Harris. Over the years other regulars at the tournament were baseball hall of famer Wade Boggs, professional tennis champion Chris Evert, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and the late saxophonist for the E Street band Clarence “Big Man” Clemons.

After the family holds a celebration of his life, Capt. Gary Ellis’ ashes will be spread on the waters he loved in Florida Bay. Those wishing to honor Gary are requested to make donations to the Redbone to keep his legacy alive.