The Sebastian Exchange Club Foundation’s Blue Water Open Charity Offshore Fishing Tournament was held on Saturday, June 4, with a rousing field of 116 boats! Sea conditions were great, enthusiasm was high, and the prize money of a guaranteed $16,000 was on everyone’s minds.
All told, 56 boats weighed in fish. This event has a ten-pound minimum on all species, giving the juveniles a chance to grow up. Even so, there was a good selection of nice “edibles” weighed in. First place kingfish was taken by Brent May’s team aboard the Georgia Cracker, a 42.42-pounder. Steve Loundermilk aboard the Bottom Knocker took first place wahoo with a fish weighing 22.60. Surprisingly, the biggest dolphin was a 28.10-pounder, caught on the No Name. There are usually 30-plus pounders weighed in. The fish that wowed the crowd, though, was the 45.25-pound gag grouper caught by Brent Oakley and his crew aboard Rock Bottom. Brent kept the crowd guessing until the brutal end, coming to the dock as the next-to-the-last boat to weigh in. Oakley stated they were fishing in 110 feet of water using a 12-ounce Grouper Buster jig with a bonito strip attached. He indicated fishing was slow, but the grouper are on the reefs eating snapper. Oakley said they carried extra bait because there are so many 20-pound red snapper down there, hanging above the grouper. Red Snapper was removed from the Blue Water Open several years ago, due to their off limits classification because of over-fishing.
The Top Junior Angler, Carson Lawson, won this prestigious award with his 18.35-pound dolphin, caught aboard the Mad Gaffer. Kim May aboard the Georgia Cracker took Top Lady Angler as well as first place kingfish with her 42.42-pounder. The Big Fish Bonanza was won with Rock Bottom’s grouper for a whopping $5,200 payout! Good thing for Oakley and team that they entered into this additional contest.
Top Boat went to the fishing team aboard Mow Money, with an aggregate weight of three fish for a total of 72.85 pounds. Top boat requires that the three fish must be at least two species in the tournament: kingfish, wahoo, dolphin, and grouper. Captain Dustin Jones indicated it was a late bite. They only had a dolphin by noon, but got the kingfish action later in the day. Jones said they found the kingfish on a ledge in about 80 feet of water and caught the winner around 3:15 p.m. They walked away with second place kingfish at 37.45-pounds and Top Boat, with $2,600 in their pockets.
This was the 23rd year for the Sebastian Blue Water Open. It has gained a reputation of being one of the premiere tournaments on the Treasure Coast, professionally run with guaranteed payouts. It keeps getting better every year!
The Sebastian Exchange Club wishes to thank all the fishermen, sponsors, volunteers and spectators who participated this year, to make this an extremely successful 2016 Blue Water Open! Over $58,000 was raised to support community non-profits, with special focus on youth activities and the prevention of child abuse. For more information and complete tournament results, check out their website: www.bluewateropen.com. Or follow them on Facebook: Sebastian Blue Water Open Fishing Tournament.
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