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2004
April 6, 2004 --- Ultimate Hook Up for Conservation
Another successful fishing tournament and another success for marine conservation! The 22nd year of the Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament produced a winning weekend for everyone! Last weekend at Miami Beach Marina on South Beach in Florida, 442 anglers on 99 boats fished for over $176,000 in cash, plus valuable prizes and trophies! Thanks to its anglers and sponsors, this non-profit organization donated close to $40,000 to area marine conservation organizations including groups such as The Billfish Foundation, Florida Keys Marine Laboratory and University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School and Experimental Hatchery.
Throughout the weekend, northwest and westerly winds dispersed the sailfish, so fishing was relatively slow. But even though bite numbers were low, the excitement was extremely high! Only one fish separated the top 10 places from the winning position and the money. It was anyone’s tournament with such close numbers.
Boats set out throttle down on Friday, April 1st with dollar signs in their eyes and observers on their boats. Some after the $5,000 top dolphin and others after the glory of the Lowrance Top Team Division! The first fish of the tournament was released just eight minutes after lines-in-the-water, an exhilarating and profitable $1,000 start for Ricky Lindner aboard Money Shot, a 31’ Contender. At day’s end, there were eleven boats with two fish each all fighting for placement. Top boats for day one and all with amateur crews, Presidente Beer’s Team JuJu, Reel Tension, and Team Accurate, each caught three fish and only time determined their placement on the leaderboard. Several game fish were brought to the scales, but heaviest for the day was Contender One’s Wayne Savage with a 28.2 lb. Tuna, Craig Marey and his 34.8 lb. Kingfish, Art McCormick with a 35 lb. Wahoo, and Mark Wodlinger weighed in a 15 lb. Dolphin.
In the meantime, huge crowds gathered on the baywalks and enjoyed the free daily dock parties, game fish weigh-ins and its festivities. The weather remained picture perfect throughout the weekend. Hooters, Presidente Beer, and Bacardi Girls served up plenty of smiles to the hungry and thirsty fisherman and spectators. Exhibitors lined the baywalk selling and raffling off an abundance of freebies, while local conservation organizations promoted their achievements.
There was new determination in the faces of the anglers as they set off for the hunt on day two. Not one boat was a shoe-in at this point. Everyone had a chance at the top. Money Shot got lucky again releasing three fish, one less than 20 minutes before lines out. Gary and Corey McBride, along with Bill Bradley and Steve Fishman also caught three aboard Conched Out and an old favorite, Miss Britt, tied them up with three as well.
It was the 31’ Contender Team Down & Durty who jumped into the lead when they added four more fish to their two from the day before. Gregg Covin aboard Destiny II, a 41’ Hatteras weighed in a 20.2 lb. Dolphin and took the lead in this category. There was still a chance to beat Gregg out of the $5,000 cash prize. The evening wrapped up with Contender Boats’ Saturday night BBQ. The docks were full of anglers and their families all enjoying hospitality Contender style!
Setting off the last day, no one knew who would turn up the winner. So close in points, the anglers set off on a mission. First fish on day three was released at 8:27 a.m. by Jud Shelley aboard Out-A-Line, their first and only fish of the weekend, but still earning them $1,000! Team Freedom, was the only one of the top five boats on the board that participated in the new $5K Hook-Up, teammates Walter and Esther Vazquez, Walter Jr., Jimmy David, Carlos Larrieu and Craig Erickson earned $42,500 for the Bacardi USA $5K, plus another $1,200 for fifth place team. Team No Mercy, who compete internationally aboard their 36’ Contender, with anglers Rob Ruwitch, Albert Castro, Rick Arnold, Jeff Arnold, John Meltzer and Capt. Steve Cunningham released one more fish pulling themselves into Fourth Place. Money Shot anglers Manny Menendez, Ricky Lindner, Luis Naya, Yalennie Vinas and Tony Diflipilito didn’t see a fish day three, but still held on to third place and several added value awards. Reel Tension anglers Victor Jensen, Pat Wilson, Chip Sheehan and Eric Jensen didn’t see anything the third day either, but still held on to second place, just barely, though…having engine problems, they had to quick borrow a boat in order to make it to the docks on time to take their polygraphs! With a minute and a half to go, they made it in, winning themselves $12,630.
And although skunked their last day, anglers Franco Zamboli, Leo and Eloy Dominguez, Aron Nusbum and AJ Willis, lead by Capt. Matty Tabor took their Contender 31 team to the top with only 1,000 points. Their team, Down & Durty, took home Lowrance Top Team, El Ocotal’s Top Outboard Boat Angler sponsored by Bertram Yacht, Presidente’s Grand Angler, Hook & Tackle’s Pot of Gold and a Stren Dynamite Daily. In addition, Capt. Matty Tambor earned top honors in the Admiral Oil Top Captain Division, and Costa Del Mar’s Master Angler Award! In total, the largest cash team award in the history of the YCMBT, a huge $61,413 check was written out and held proudly as the team posed for photos.
And in YCMBT fashion, where so many teams get a chance to win something, even more awards were passed out. Team Chopper, placed first in the Hook & Tackle Amateur Division and for fishing the top three billfish tournaments this year won $10,000 cash in the Miami Beach Marina Libertad Challenge sponsored by Shelly Realty!
In the Funfish Division, Warren Sands took $1,000 and third place for the 28.7 lb. Tuna, Robert Southand, Sr. on Off The Hook brought in a nice sized Kingfish and at 40.4 lbs., took first. Hunter Wald on Never Enough took first place with the 38.5 Wahoo he landed. And finally Gregg Covin held onto first and $5,000 with his 20.2 lb. Dolphin.
Once again this year, top Lady Angler honors went to Nicole Roy fishing aboard Hipneetized, with second going to Deborah Hellings on Miss Britt and third to Janene Claus on Qualifier. Junior Angler awards went to 14 year old Jorge Gil, 16 year old Jorge Ortega and 15 year old David Weitz. No Vacansea team with juniors Jordan Weinkle and Tyler Sherwood all won awards and David Weitz on Carpe Momentum won for Tuna. Seven year old Macky Pesch on Contender Joan was the youngest junior to catch a fish.
In all, close to $40,000 was raised and donated to area marine conservation organizations, fulfilling the Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament’s mission to promote awareness and support marine enhancement and conservation.