Father-son Success at Kiwanis Club of Homestead-South Dade’s 39th Dolphin Days Family Fishing Tournament

For the second straight year, the Kiwanis Club of Homestead-South Dade’s recently completed Dolphin Days Family Fishing Tournament added another ‘first’ as Bud Cornell captured first place, followed by his son, Kevin. According to Kiwanis Club historians, the 1-2 father-son finish is the first time in tournament history a father and son came in first and second place. Last year, 14-year-old Dylan Rubio stunned the fishing world by winning the overall tournament as a Junior Angler, marking the first time a Junior ever won the tournament.

“This is a great, fun fishing tournament, with friendship, competitiveness and surprises,” said event Co-Chair Erica Avila of Kiwanis. “From the Captain’s Party—featuring the Miami Heat Dancers—to fishing day, the entire community stepped up, especially our sponsors and donors. Everyone had a great time and we were able to again achieve the tournament’s three goals; raise money for the Kiwanis Club of Homestead-South Dade’s Foundation, the Military Affairs Council to serve the military, and provide a free opportunity for children to learn and love the sport of fishing. This was a big win-win for the entire Homestead-South Dade community.”

For Bud Cornell, who spent nine years in the U.S. Army—most as a nuclear inspector—before retiring as a Captain, the 1-2 father-son finish was a “fantastic coincidence” considering the near-record turnout for the event. Cornell, who had been coming to vacation—and fish—with family members in Key Largo since he was five-years-old, moved to the area after he left the Army in 1981. The commercial realtor is a two-time champion, having won the tournament in 2021.

He was on Captain Mike Catlin’s ‘Die Hard,’ while Kevin—who recently got his Captain’s license— was on Captain Justin Hann’s ‘All Hann’s On Deck.’ Bud Cornell won $3,500 for first place (12.9 pounds), while Kevin (8.1 pounds) took home $1,200. Hann (6.2 pounds) won $1,000 for third place. All Hann’s On Deck captured the Bucket of Bucks, followed by Die Hard and GSI. Christian Verdier won in the Junior Angler division, followed by Shane Walker and Hunter Cercy while Conner Cercy won the Pee Wee Angler.

Damaris Robaina took home first place in the Female Angler division while Xavier Robaina won the Kid’s Edible Non-Dolphin category. At the end of the day, though, the tournament focus was on the history-making Cornells. “It really was a special moment,” said Kevin. “He’s the one that gave me the gift of this pastime and I always grew up admiring my old man’s ‘greatest catch’ pictures on the wall and his legacy on the water so I was happy to share a moment we can remember together to add to that.

“Its also a fun thing for us because the tournament results kind of lets him know I’m catching up to him but also lets me know that the old man’s still the top dog! I’ll get there one day, but in the interim, I’m happy holding the top two spots in such a great community event.”