Upcoming outdoors events

A top prize of $5,000 will be awarded in the Mad Dog Mandich Fishing Classic on Friday and Saturday in Islamorada. Eligible species are wahoo, dolphin, and kingfish. A ``weekend warrior'' division targets snapper and grouper. Entry fee is $400 per boat. Call 305-667-0399 or visit www.maddogclassic.com.

Divers and snorkelers are invited to participate in a treasure hunt dive for coins valued at up to $1,000 on the Neptune Memorial Reef out of Key Biscayne on Friday. Registration fee is $50 for divers; $35 for snorkelers. Call 954-556-9400, ext. 4407, ore-mail reefinfo@nmreefs.com.

Make plans to compete in the 10th annual ``Day on the Bay'' fishing tournament Saturday and Sunday in Miami-Dade and the Keys. Prizes will be awarded for 12 species. Entry fee is $70 for adults; $30 for juniors (15 and under). Call captain Gil Muratori at 305-255-3808 or 305-790-7644.

Upcoming outdoors events

Biscayne National Park will hold a free Family Fun Fest from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center, 9700 SW 328 St., Homestead. The theme is from Ken Burns' documentary, ``National Parks -- America's Best Idea,'' showcasing features of Biscayne's sister parks across the country. Call 305-230-7275, ext. 555.

The Big Cypress chapter of the Florida Trail Association will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Jabez Center, 12118 SW 114th Place, Miami. National Park Service botanist Jim Sadie will discuss the plant life of Everglades National Park. Refreshments will be served. Call Nina at 305-608-6866.

The Everglades Birding Festival is Jan. 13-18, with the headquarters at Hollywood Beach Golf Resort, 1600 Johnson St., Hollywood. Activities will feature speeches, workshops, social events and field trips to local parks and wetlands. Contact Paddy Cunningham at birdpaddy@yahoo.com or call 954-805-6810.

Upcoming outdoors events

Flats anglers who enjoy chasing permit on fly rod are invited to sign up for the Del Brown Invitational Permit Tournament Thursday and Friday in Key West. A kickoff party will be held July 21 at 5:30 p.m. at Hurricane Hole Marina, 5130 Overseas Highway, Stock Island. Entry fee is $1,500 per angler. For more information, e-mail csasun@aol.com or call 305-664-2444.

Biscayne Bay Sailing Club will hold a monthly social meeting Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Joe's Tiki Bar, 3301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami. For more information, call Carole at 305-682-9030 or visit www.thesailingclub.com.

Kids and their parents are invited to learn how to fish with ``Kids Fish Fridays'' on board the Reward party boat at Miami Beach Marina and Kelly Fleet at Haulover Park. The program runs Friday until Aug. 28. Fee is free for children age 6 and up; $40 for adults. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call Lisa Krimsky at 305-421-4017 or captain Wayne Conn ata 305-372-9470.

Upcoming outdoor events

The ``Florida Sportsman Magazine Radio Live'' program will broadcast its final show Saturday on WMCU (1080 AM). Co-host captain Alan Sherman said the long-running, live radio fishing show fell victim to the faltering South Florida economy.

Everglades National Park will host a slough slog at its Shark Valley entrance, U.S. 41 west of Krome Avenue, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Prepare to walk into Everglades habitats and get muddy. For reservations, call 305-221-8776.

NOAA Fisheries reminds anglers that the recreational fishery for spotted sea trout will be closed in South Florida from Sunday- Dec. 31. In addition, the recreational harvest of vermilion snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic, including the Keys, will close Sunday through March 31. Recreational anglers can keep vermilions caught in state waters -- out to three miles -- during the closure. However, charter vessels and headboats with federal grouper-snapper permits are not

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NEIGHBORS ZONES & AREAS MIAMI-DADE

Aventura & Sunny Isles Beach Includes Golden Beach, Haulover, Highland Oaks, Northeast Miami-Dade Editor: Tere Figueras Negrete, tfigueras@MiamiHerald.com ; 305-376-3556