| Recap of the 2011 Tournament |
It was nail biting from concern for the begining to very end. My first concern for the 31st Annual Billfish Tournament. was to find that one boat that would take me to the magic number,30 boats. I had it in my hands but mechanical problems with the boat took it away. It wasn't until the last hour of the Captain's Metting when the magic walked through the door. Our fleet had reached our target for the year, 30 boats. The marina was at its best stocked with some of the most beautiful fishing machines representing builders such as Spencer, Dixon, ACY, Hatteras, viking, Rybovich, Wills, Merritt, bertram and other custom designs. The who's who of the industry were all here and to do one thing -release some sails
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| The 1st day of fishing the entire fllet, minus the boys from texas, fished. it was 35 a goegeous 601', light, SW wind day, which most belive not to be the best for sails. The 29 boats released 146 sails. Kevin paul aboard "Lo Que Sea" with anglers Tony Huerta, Tom Philips and Brandon Haynes captured the daily with 12 releases The day redefined fishing SW winds.
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| Day 2 mother nature reared her ugky side with strong west winds and seas up to 7 feet with a close chop. Only 4 boats departed the inlet. Hans Kraaz aboard the "Vintage" released 3 of 7 sails dor the day. The front was moving in quickly and the temperatures were dropping - winter was on her way back.
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| Day 3 26 of the fleet departed the inlet with 20 knots of wind on their quarter and seas 6'. As the day progressed the weather subsided and the boys described the afternoon's fishing condition as real pretty. The day produced a 4.66 fish per boat average,releasing 121 sails. The boys on the "Caroline" had 13 releases for the daily award. |
| Everybody got showered by the cannon blast on day 4. With a fleet of 30 boats 103 sails were released. The fleet split on directions departing the inlet, the majority of the tourament had been fished to the north, but several had heard the bite was moving south.The captains's voices were audible on the house radio so they were relatively close. |
| Gregg Uff on the "Fision Machine" and his crew turned up the heat releasing 10 sails by anglers Margie Adams, Brandon Raffol and Bruno Rodiguez. They took the daily award. The race for the finish between "Lo Que Sea " and "Boneshaker" was another nail biter. "Boneshaker" was trailing by 2 fish entering the final day. By noon "Lo Que Sea " had increased their lead by 3 fish.This is never a comfortable lead with Scotty Breathing down your neck. The crew on the "Boneshaker" released 5 sails after noon and the "Lo Que Sea " released 3. |
| Everybody that was away fro the computer was doing math. "Lo Que Sea " released their last fish at 3:14 to solidify the lead for the 31st Annual Pelican Tournament This was one for his father, Moby. The tournament closed with a total 377 releases. |
| The final Sequence |
1st Place
20 Releases |
Lo Que Sea |
Capt:
Kevin Paul |
Anglers: Tony Huerta, Tom Philps, Brandon Haynes |
2nd Place
20 Releases |
Boneshaker |
Capt:
Scotty Fawcett |
Anglers: Joe Lehner, Shyler Wichers, Van Wichers |
3rd Place
23 Releases |
Fishin Machine |
Capt:
Greg Uff |
Anglers: Marigie Adams, Brandon Rafool, Bruno Rodriquez |
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