2011 Members Tournament Results

(View more pictures in Stuart Sailfish Club Pictures)

Yes, it happened! After a 1 week weather delay, then threats of another cancellation, and with a rules modification allowing anglers to fish "captains choice" of either Saturday or Sunday, 10 boats signed up delivering 31 hardy anglers. (We DID NOT wish to have it weathered out 2 years in a row!) Fish were few and scattered, but most caught something.

Not included in the tournament gamefish, but worthy of Honorable Mention, Conrad Casselli brought in a 22 pound blackfin tuna. 22 lbs., WOW! No kingfish or wahoo were weighed, but winners reported sailfish and dolphin. (Oh, yes, bonita and scattered barracuda abounded.)

Thanks to master chefs Andy Kubiak and Dave Powell, and the tenacity of many Club volunteers (including new members) everyone enjoyed a fun filled awards event.

Awards were as follows:

Gamefish Division
1st Place - Paver - Captain Matt George
2nd Place - Skurry Along - Captain Michael O'Neill
3rd Place - Prime Time - Captain Tom Wichers
Billfish Division
1st Place - Challenge - Captain Jim Hardee - 4 releases
2nd Place - Sea Check - Captain VJ Bell - 2 releases
3rd Place - Hotty Toddy - Captain Mack MacDonald - 1 release
Outstanding Junior Angler - Will Ponsoldt 3rd - 1 release, 1 dolphin
Outstanding Angler - Michael Fogel - 2 releases
Top Boat - Challenge - 4 releases

Congrats to all!

2011 Members Tournament Captains Meeting

Well, again, it's been hard to plan for this one. The weather gods looked like they would favor us until about 36 hours ago. Then, they turned on us. We decided to have the Captains Meeting tonight, and then try to fish next Saturday.

The turnout was light, but enthusiastic. And, food and drink was excellent. Many thanks to our volunteers, and particularly the "clean up team", as it's so easy to eat, drink, laugh, and depart leaving the "clean up" to others. (I love to do that!)

Staying behind and "leaving the place the way we found it" were the Wichers gang, Tom, Sarah, and Madison..also, Mary Jo, Sherry, JodiM, Erika, Char & Ronnie.

And hats off to the bar tenders, Mary Jo and Sherry, and provider of culinary delights, Char. Her "gourmet meatballs" brought her two marriage proposals, even right in front of Ron!

Looking forward to a little support from the weather team. Hope to see you out next Saturday, the 12th for some actual fishing.

In the meantime, check out Stuart Sailfish Club Pictures for many of Betty & Betsey's pictures from tonight.