(Virginia Beach, VA); The pop duo Daryl Hall and John Oates were thinking of another woman when they penned the tune Sara Smile. But the Sarah Jean team is certainly smiling this morning after winning the 23rd annual Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament. Capt. Kurt Ward and the team fishing the 58 Spencer released 10 billfish (one blue marlin, nine sailfish) to earn 830 points for the week. Sarah Jean takes home a total of $500,599, which includes the first-place team awards and multiple jackpot entries. Trophies were also awarded as the Top Crew and F. Wayne McLeskey Memorial Top Boat.
Sarah Jean team members included mate Jake Keech, Patricia Barton, Tom Barton III, Tommy Barton IV, Ryan Cool, Rachael Davanzo and Steve Richardson, all from Virginia Beach. Sarah Jean is owned by Mike Atkinson, also from Virginia Beach. Sixty-one boats were competing this year, vying for a share of a new tournament record $943,500 in overall prize money, including optional jackpots.
Capt. George Powell and his family team from Hatteras Village, NC, posted a last-day rally to earn second-place honors. Kimberly Dawn, a 61 Sportsman, released three blue marlin and two sailfish (740 points) to win $122,100, including jackpots. George Powell Junior was named the VBBT Top Angler after scoring four billfish.
The General, commanded by Capt. Max Weaver, was named the third-place team overall. The Morehead City, NC-based 55 Buddy Cannady released one blue and seven sailfish to take home a check worth $85,400. Bi-Op Sea (59 Spencer/Capt. Jesse Granitzki) was ranked the fourth-place team overall after releasing seven sailfish. Geddy Up (58 Caison/Capt. Wade Fehlig) was the fifth-place team, also with seven sailfish based on time of release.
On Time (60 Spencer/Capt. Cameron Morrow) takes home $76,050 after winning the optional Lay Day Tournament and coming in third place in the Full Throttle Jackpot optional. Cheryl Anne (60 Rybovich/Capt. Will Austin) was second in that division, with Sarah Jean claiming the top prize. Outnumbered (65 Viking/Capt. James Breen) won $21,350 as the top daily boat on Day 3 and Shelley Summerville was named the Karen Feller Memorial Top Lady Angler for the week. Bruce Ash was named the Bryan “Pick” Dalheim Memorial Top Junior Angler, fishing on Strokin’ (57 Bobby Croswait/Capt. Jordy Croswait).
In the game fish divisions John B. Roberts was the top dolphin angler with his 35.40-pound entry. Roberts was fishing on Weldor’s Ark (55 Jarrett Bay/Capt. Dale Britt). Randy Abbitt cranked in the heaviest wahoo of the week at 54.5 pounds, competing aboard Saga (63 Ricky Scarborough/Capt. Randy Abbitt). Bobby Whelan, on Fender Bender (62 Spencer/Capt. Colin Oxnard,) boated the top tuna, tipping the scales at 65.9 pounds. All three game fish division winners paid out $10,167. Fender Bender’s Bryce White was also given the Joel Webb “Tribute to Excellence Top Mate—The Webby—trophy.
Mister Pete (60 Spencer/Capt. Alan Neiford) earned the Wayne Sawyer Victory Lap Hard Charger Award after battling a blue marlin on light tackle for nearly seven hours on Friday only to lose the fish just out of reach of the gaff after sundown.
“It was another fantastic week,” says VBBT Tournament Director Paula Davis. “The fishing wasn’t quite up to our usual pace, but the teams persevered. I’d like to thank all our participants, wonderful sponsors and the staff/volunteers for fishing with us again. I’m confident everyone had a fun time.”
The 2027 Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament will be held August 18-21, 2027.
