Kathryn “Kat” Vallilee made history as the 2023 Grand Champion Angler, becoming the first woman to win the famed March Merkin title.
Vallilee, of Key West, is no stranger to the permit tournament circle. She has fished in the last six March Merkin tournaments, finishing second in 2022. But determination and a lot of hard work in the last year helped Vallilee win Grand Champion Angler.
The March Merkin is considered one of the largest and most competitive catch and release tournaments in the world. Twenty-five teams of elite permit anglers took part this year from March 13-16. With cold fronts common in March, the tournament is known for tough conditions. Multiple tournaments have been won with only one-fish catches.
“This year, visibility was bad due to cloud cover, the wind was very high, the temperature was cool and,” Vallilee said, “on top of that, there were few fish around. Not a great combination for catching permit.”
After fishing the first two days with no permit to hand for any team, the last day proved successful for Vallilee. On the third day, she earned the title after her guide, Capt. Doug Kilpatrick of Sugarloaf Key, put her on one permit. The fish measured 21 inches to the fork of the tail. It was only permit caught and released in the entire tournament. For guiding Vallilee to victory, Kilpatrick was named Guide to the Grand Champion.
Vallilee got into fly fishing when she moved to Key West after college. She quickly realized fishing in the Keys was her passion and before long she found herself entering tournaments.
“I’ve been working hard to become more competitive in the field and fishing these tournaments has been a humbling experience,” she said. “The other teams in years past really showed me that I had a lot of work to do if I wanted to have a real chance at winning. Last year was a real heartbreaker for me. So for Doug and I to come back this year and win with such tough conditions felt really great.”
Her choice of fly rod for this tournament was a no-brainer. She fished the Hardy Zane Pro, which has been the rod of choice for many saltwater tournament anglers who have ended up on the podium in recent years.
“I love the Zane Pro because it’s fast enough to deal with the wind and the urgency of saltwater fishing, but still has a great feel and is fun to cast,” she said.
The March Merkin began in 2006 and is hosted by the Lower Keys Guide Association, a non-profit organization of professional fishing guides dedicated to sustainable fisheries management. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Lower Keys Guide Association and the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, which helps conserve and restore bonefish, tarpon and permit fisheries and habitats in the Western Hemisphere.
