ALICE TOWN, BIMINI—NOVEMBER 18, 2015— With 30 boats and over 120 anglers competing, Wahoo Smackdown VII, hosted by the Bimini Big Game Club Resort and Marina, set a record turnout this past weekend for the popular tournament series.
Taking home the first place trophy and a $6,750 check was team Pachanga, captained by Carlos Tosca out of Miami. The five-man team’s top five wahoo weighed in at 248.9 pounds. This was Team Pachanga’s first Wahoo Smackdown and this group of anglers had not fished together as a team for five years. Second place was Fishing-A-Loan from St. Augustine, FL with 232.1 pounds and third place went to Nervous Water from Hilton Head, SC with 195.8 pounds.
The all Ladies Angler team Nearly Impossible won with the largest wahoo (71.6-pounds) but Team Pachanga was nipping at their heels with a 69.6-pound wahoo.
Other category winners were Nervous Water in the Ladies Division; Nearly Impossible with largest wahoo (71.6 pounds); Out-of-Line with the largest tuna (6.8 pounds) and Finale with largest mahi (14.6-pounds).
Tournament Director Misty Wells said the two-day tournament paid more than $20,000 in cash and prizes.
“This was the biggest and the best Wahoo Smackdown Bimini has ever seen,” said Wells. “The teams and sponsors are already signing up for the next tournament in April 2016. In this tournament, every ounce counted, some teams were separated on the board by only two ounces.”
Wells said there was no shortage of fun between the dock parties with Sands Beer, a Junkanoo Parade and the Smackdown Girls’ trio sponsored by FishBrain.
Steve Riely, General Manager for the Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina said the tournament was “a tremendous success”. He continued, “ and we had many positive comments from the teams and guests about the improvements we have made over the past 8 months on our $6 million renovation project, including a new pool, new docks , and room and restaurant upgrades… to name a few. “
Tournament sponsors included FishBrain, Sands Beer, Tito’s Vodka, Costa Sunglasses, Bost Lures, Bucket Innovations, Don Ray Marine Artist, Island Air Charters and Salt Life Optic Sunglasses. Media sponsor JVC Communications– 900 AM The Talk, 95.9 The Palm and 93.5 The Bar was broadcast live from Bimini during the tournament.
