[dropcap]A[/dropcap] fleet of 95 offshore boats and 10 inshore teams entered the TCBA’s 29th Annual event and weighed in a total 69 catches of dolphin, king mackerel, snapper, grouper and specialty category fish tuna and cobia. No one weighed in the elusive wahoo this year. The Inshore “Catch, Photo & Release” division winner Shane Surrency and team took top honors for the second year in a row with a combined total of 73 inches of trout, snook and redfish.
The tournament was based out of Pirates Cove Marina and Resort in Port Salerno and the anglers had calm seas for most of the day. Offshore and inshore cash prizes were awarded to first, second and third place in each category, as well as the VIP tournament for a total payout of more than $14,000 in prize money. Specialty prizes included a trip to Las Vegas sponsored by Blue Marlin Motors, which was presented to Caleb Evans on the “Gringo” for catching and releasing the tournaments only blue marlin. Special thanks to S.P.S. Building Materials, which donated two “Big Green Egg” grills as chance prizes, and to the committee and volunteers who helped raise $3,000 for the Future Builders of America Scholarship Programs.
DOLPHIN: 1st Place –Beau Ratenstrauch– Early Times – 26.58-lbs; 2nd Place –Dan Laisure – Double Adjusted – 24.15 lbs.; 3rd Place – Chris Worrell– Stay Low – 17.28 lbs.
KING MACKEREL: 1st Place – Kadri Benton – Piracy/ Whites Tackle – 36.57 lbs.; 2nd Place – Josh Bradley – Reel Decisions – 34.08 lbs.; 3rd Place –Michele Nehls – Big Blue – 28.50 lbs.
WAHOO: None weighed
GROUPER: 1st Place – Jennifer Earnest – Floridian – 22.58 lbs.; 2nd Place – Chad Kroeger – Boatiful Day – 19.85 lbs.; 3rd Place –Ronnie Kirchman – Real Tradition – 19.46 lbs.
SNAPPER: 1st Place – Mike Hsu – Team Light Weight – 25.41 lbs.; 2nd Place – Howard Steinberg – Team Light Weight – 16.25 lbs.; 3rd Place – Joey Haluska – Real Tradition – 15.33 lbs.
LARGEST OVERALL – SPECIALTY CATEGORIES: Cobia – Richard Turgeon – Reel Decisions– 25.25 lbs.; Blackfin Tuna – Patrick Silver – Hydra Sports – 24.91 lbs.; Cubera Snapper – None Weighed. Lady Angler – Michele Nehls– Big Blue – 28.50 lbs. King; Jr. Angler (Male)–Chandon Chen – Bum Bum II – 10.60 lb. King; Jr. Angler (Female)–Brooke Ashley – Fish Club – 5.88 lb. Dolphin
2015 Inshore Division (Catch, Photo & Release) – 10 Boats registered
1st Place – Shane Surrency & Team – 73 total inches; 2nd Place – Chris Britton & Team – 72 total inches; 3rd Place – Susan Page & Team – 69.5 total inches.
