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Natural Wins Cheeca
Sailfish Tournament
Finding sailfish came naturally for Captain Reece
Lewis, whose anglers Walt Thomas of Orlando and Edward Talton of Fort
Walton Beach, Fla., caught and released 15 sailfish to garner grand
champion honors at the 15th Annual Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish
Tournament that ended Saturday, Jan. 17, in the Florida Keys.
Lewis, who skipper’s The Natural, said his team’s
decision to register for the two-day tournament was made at the last
minute when they realized weather conditions were perfect for
sailfish.
"We caught five out of 11 sailfish (hits) the first
day," said Lewis. "We made mistakes, criss-crossed lines and broke
them off."
Lewis said on the second day of fishing, the team
settled down and caught 10 of 18 sailfish.
"I’m known for sight fishing, but this time we
live-baited the whole tournament," he said. "We had to bring the fish
to us."
Thomas, who operates an insurance company, also won
high-point male angler with nine fish, which qualifies him to
participate in both the World Billfish Series United States Divisional
Championship of Billfishing and the International Game Fish
Association Offshore Series.
Three hundred sailfish were caught and released by 205
anglers aboard 66 boats in two days of fishing, according to
tournament coordinator Warren Miller.
Walter and Esther Vazquez and Warren Sands, all of Miami, placed
second with 13 fish caught aboard Freedom with Captain John Dudas.
Anthony DeLuca and Brian Baugher of Naples, Fla., came in third with
12 sailfish aboard the Kalex, skippered by Alex Adler.
Helen Samples of Grand Rapids, Mich. was the high
point female angler. She released seven sailfish aboard the Reel McCoy
with Captain George McElveen of Islamorada.
Mercury Outboards recognized Captain Greg Poland of
Islamorada aboard Conch 27 with a $500 prize for accruing the most
points while using a Mercury engine.
The Presidential is the second leg of the three-part
Florida Keys Gold Cup Championship, joining the Islamorada Sailfish
Tournament staged in December and the Islamorada Fishing Club Sailfish
Tournament, set for Jan. 22-23, for a chance to win a coveted gold
championship ring for the most sailfish releases in the three
tournaments.
Tiki Wins Bartender's Sailfish Tournament
One
of the longest running tournaments in the Keys, the 23rd
Annual Bartenders Sailfish Open took place last week. The legendary
“Dead Animal Bar”, a.k.a. the Safari Lounge crew took home the
huge winning bar trophy back to Lower Matecumbe. Team Safari was
fishing aboard Captain Roy Lindback’s, TIKI out of Caloosa Cove
Marina. The Safari bar team’s 3 fish total was just enough to earn
Marene Smith and Brian Anderson top honors in the Bar Division.
Brian’s individual efforts, (2 fish) also earned him 2nd
place in the Bartender Division.
Finishing in second
place in the Bar Division was the Whistle Stop team. Fishing aboard
the POVERTY SUCKS, with Capt. Deitmar Kossman and Nick Stanczk as
mate, Mike Norris, Nancy Emery, Chris Cooke and Tony Golden released
two fish edging out the SLIMEY’S team on time.
Team SLIMEY’S, Ben
Richards, Natalie Kenzior and Danny Constantino fishing with Captain
Donnie Green and mate Joe Snyder aboard the OLD HATT also finished the
contest with two fish. Although they got edged out in the Bar
Division, they did however win two other categories. Tony won the
prize for Outstanding Catch, with a 19.75 lb. tuna, and Ben Richards
was the tournaments Top Angler, with his two sailfish releases.
Finishing in third
place in the Bartenders Division, with one fish, was Kirk Weatherly
fishing Captain Skip Bradeen and his mate Capt. Wayne Kvadus, aboard
the BLUE CHIP TOO. “We had the lead right out of the gate…9:30
came and went and we were still in the lead. But, we didn’t see
another fish the entire day,” Captain Skip joked at dinner.
Wrapping up the Bartender’s Division, in 4th place was Lean
Kassof fishing aboard the new CHRISTY LYNN, with Captain Gary Sperl
and mate Tom Bressler.
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