Tournament Talk – July/August 2024

MAINE TUNA TOURNEYS CREATE GRAND SLAM SERIES

Three Maine bluefin tuna tournaments have united to create a new tournament series called the Gulf of Maine Grand Slam.  

The series kicks off July 13 with the Bluefin Benefit Battle in Portland, and includes the Bailey Island Fishing Tournament in Bailey Island, and the Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza.

The tournaments aim to support local communities and help create a sustainable bluefin tuna fishery. Vessels that register for all 3 tournaments will be eligible for additional prize money, part of which will go to a charity of the winning captain’s choice.

The series kicks off July 13 with the Bluefin Benefit Battle in Portland.

“The Bluefin Benefit Battle is an inspiring event. Year after year, it continues to bring the community together, to not only support local fisherman but to support each other in the fight against cancer,” said Courtenay Needham, director of development of Northern New England. “The dedication of our volunteers and our sponsors’ commitment to the American Cancer Society embodies the ‘local fish, local fight’ motto and we are grateful for their efforts to raise money and awareness to help local Maine families affected by cancer.”

The second leg begins July 21 with the Bailey Island Fishing Tournament in Bailey Island, hosted by the Casco Bay Tuna Club.

“The Casco Bay Tuna Club’s Bailey Island Fishing Tournament is thrilled to be a part of the opportunity for fishermen to participate in a grand slam,”  tournament president Monique Coombs said. “This marks our first year back after a short hiatus, and it’s more important than ever for tournaments to collaborate in demonstrating their steadfast commitment to sustainability and the health of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem. We can achieve this by working together to encourage fishermen to responsibly handle their catch and promoting strong values rooted in stewardship and conservation.”

The third and final leg is the Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza that begins July 27 in South Portland. Entering its sixth year, the Bonanza raises funds for Maine community college scholarships and internships and bluefin tuna research at the University of Maine’s Pelagic Fisheries Lab at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. It features a Youth Day event, 4 fishing days and a fundraising auction and dinner where over $50,000 in prize money will be awarded.

“I think this new initiative is a great way to demonstrate unity among the tournaments and how we’re all working together to benefit our communities,” tournament president Bob Humphrey said.

Vessels must be registered in all three tournaments to be eligible for the grand prize. The captain and crew who accumulate the most points will receive a trophy, a cash prize and the privilege of proclaiming themselves the top tuna team in Maine.

For more information, visit: www.gulfofmainegrandslam.com or email gulfofmainegrandslam@gmail.com.

REEL CURRENT WINS KELI WAGNER TOURNEY

The team on Reel Current took home top honors at the 27th Annual Keli Wagner Lady Angler Tournament in Morehead City, North Carolina, in June as the one-day event set records, becoming the largest lady angler tournament in the world.

Reel Current bested a field of 267 boats and an estimated 1,500 lady anglers competing for a piece of the $393,125 purse, releasing two blue marlin and four sailfish for 1,300 points to win $126,225.

Marlin Fever was second, hooking a grand slam with 2 blue marlin, 1 white marlin and 2 sailfish, landing them $30,855. Reel Quick was third with 2 blue marlin and 2 sailfish releases, earning $20,570.

In the dolphin category, Sails Pitch hooked the Parker Boats Level II: Dolphin WTA with a 28.7-pound dolphin, earning them $133,195. Post Call reeled in a 25.6-pound dolphin, snagging second place and $13,713.

Good Enough weighed in a 29.6-pound wahoo, claiming first place and $20,570. Counter Currensea hooked a 24.5-pound wahoo, reeling in $13,713.

SandBob took first and second in the tuna division, with a 29.3-pounder and a 24.8-pound tuna, winning a total of $34,283 ($20,570 for first place and $13,713 for second place).

The boats brought 50 gamefish to the scales: 38 dolphin, 10 wahoo, and 2 tuna and racked up 88 releases: 44 blue marlin, 32 sailfish, and 12 white marlin.

TEAM HURRUCANE II WINS SKIPPERS DOLPHIN TOURNEY

Team Hurricane II captured the title at the 10th Annual Skippers Dolphin Tournament in Key Largo,l Florida, beating a field of 73 teams made up of 278 anglers.

The team of Capt. Skye Stanley and anglers Matthew Carlton from Tallahassee, Florida, and Josh Hufstetler of Thomasville, Georgia, got to the winners circle weighing 41.1 pounds of dolphin, the combined weight of their largest three fish – a 29.9-pounder plus a 4.7 and 6.5 – and took home $27,980.

The 29.9-pound dolphin caught by Hufstetler won the team $8,485 for the Largest Fish on Saturday.

Teams were allowed to weigh in two fish on Saturday and two on Sunday, with their three heaviest determining the winners.

In second place was Shaka Kai captained by Joshua Holmes. They caught a combined weight of 39.5 pounds to win $15,985. The team of Ryan Clevenger of Grandville, Ohio, Joshua Holmes of Homestead, Florida and Shawn Shipman of Virginia Beach, Virginia weighed in fish at 20.3, 15 and 4.2 pounds. Holmes caught the 20.3-pound dolphin to win 3rd Largest Fish Day 1, for $500, and Shipman’s 15-pound dolphin to won the 2nd Largest Fish on Day 2 worth $6,844.

In third place was Crazyfish with anglers Per Pedersen from Fort Lauderdale, Sebastian and Kent Pedersen of Miami, Florida, and Alec Ramoski of Key Biscayne, Florida, catching a total of 36 pounds winning $5,000. 

Peace & Love was fourth with anglers Ben Breier, Shawn MacMullin Jr. and Ray MacCall from Tavernier and Key Largo, Florida, with fish totaling 35.8 pounds winning $5,990.

In fifth was Charisma, run by Capt. Chris Dillon. Anglers Jerry Metallo, Gary Shafer, Joe Mara and Thomas Gonzalez of Princeton, Florida, and Sean Sheehan of Key Largo, Florida, who caught a total of 33.5 pounds worth $2,995.

Dream Weaver was sixth, weighing 32.3 pounds winning $500. Dream Weaver angler Corbin Buckley of Marathon, Florida, won 3rd Largest Fish on day 2 weighing 14.1 pound dolphin winning $4,396.

Second Largest Fish on Saturday, a 20.8-pounder, won $4,990 for Daniel Frade of Fort Pierce, Florida, fishing aboard Putemindakoola.  Largest fish on Sunday weighing 16.7 pounds was caught by Daniel Gonzales of Ormond Beach, Florida, aboard Team Net Worker.  

Jill Paglia of Ocala, Florida, won $2,000 for Largest Fish Lady Angler with the 13.6 pounds aboard Executive Decision.  Second Largest Fish Lady Angler was won by Kylie Cochrane of Miami, Florida, who was fishing aboard Reel Good, for $1,000.

Largest Senior Angler winner was Paul Knapp of Pompano, Florida, fishing aboard Pauly’s Girl, who took home $1,000 for an 8.2-pound dolphin.

Junior anglers competed for top three places with Brock Stoky of Key Largo taking first place with his 7.3-pound fish winning $500.00.  Second was Matthew Rangel of Key Largo, Florida, winning $250 with a 7.3-pounder and Reef Bennett of Tavernier, Florida, was third, winning $100 with a 5.4-pound dolphin.