|
|
Past News - Archives
|
28 Jun 2006
2nd Annual HBGFC tournament June 22-24, 2006
|
Miss J II wins 2nd Annual HBGFC Invitational Billfish Tournament
The Houston Big Game Fishing Club hosted its 2nd Annual Invitational Billfish Tournament on June 22nd to June 24th out of the Galveston Yacht Club. 23 Boats entered and departed from Galveston, Freeport and Port O’Connor under ideal weather conditions. Participants were allowed to leave the dock on Thursday, June 23rd at 5:00 pm and begin fishing anytime after midnight, Friday morning. All boats were required to be back at Galveston Yacht Club by 6:00 pm on Saturday, June 24th.
The billfishing got off to a fast start with a swordfish release at 3:30 a.m. on Friday and the blue marlin bite started at daylight and continued throughout the 2 days of fishing. The 23 boats released a total of 21 billfish including 14 blue marlin, 2 white marlin, 4 sailfish and the 1 swordfish. Four boats had 2 blue marlin releases and the top 4 places were determined by the time of each boats second release. Doug Wall’s “Miss J II took 1st place honors with their 2nd blue marlin release at 12:01 pm on the first day. Second Place went to Jack Beal’s “Sea Dollars” with their second blue marlin release coming just an hour later than the Miss J II. Third Place went to Mark Martino on the “Lady Adele” with Gaile Henry’s team on the “Adelante” taking 4th place. The team aboard the “Wasabi”, owned by Doug Osburn, released a blue marlin and a swordfish. Other teams releasing multiple billfish included Mike Miller’s “Gringo Honeymoon” with a blue marlin and 2 sailfish, Wes Tumlinson’s “Puro Cabron” with a blue and 1 sailfish and Jim Scott’s “Bout Time” with a white marlin and a sailfish. All billfish releases were verified by video or digital images. Under the tournament’s points system which mirrors the Club’s annual awards program, blue marlin releases were worth 1000 points, swordfish 500 points, white marlin 400 points and sailfish 200 points.
In the weighed fish categories the largest yellowfin was a healthy 116.5 pounds, caught by angler, Mike Miller on the “Gringo Honeymoon. Second and third place tuna went to Randy Cole aboard the “Cherry Rose” and George Gartner on the “Legacy” respectively.
Derick Dick, fishing on the “Puro Cabron” took the First and Second Place Wahoo trophies with Ron McDowell, aboard the “Ocean Oasis” taking 3rd.
The First Place Dolphin was also caught by Derick Dick and weighed an impressive 44.6 pounds. 2nd Place went to George Gartner on the Legacy with the 3rd Place Dolphin going to Danna Henry on the “Adelante”.
Special Awards were presented for the largest blue marlin released, Top Lady Angler, Top Outboard and Top Captain and Mate. Doug Osburn took the Largest Blue Marlin Release Award with an estimated 400 to 450 lb blue on the “Wasabi”. Top Lady Angler was awarded to Melody McNair for her blue marlin release on the “Costa Nada” and the Top Outboard went to Wes Tumlinson’s “Puro Cabron”.
The Top Captain award was claimed by Kelly Rutherford and the Top Mate trophy went to Larry Campbell, both on the “Miss J II”.
The tournament culminated with a fabulous awards dinner highlighted by the announcement and introduction of this year's HBGFC College Scholarship recipients. 13 of this year’s 18 Scholarship recipients were present with their parents at the awards dinner to thank the Club Members for their generous efforts in youth projects.
All in all it was a great event from the captain's party to the closing of the dance floor. With payouts of cash and prizes in excess of $100,000 and an increase of over 50% in entries and participation, the Houston Big Game Fishing Club has set the stage for the premier billfish tournament on the upper Texas coast.
For more information on the HBGFC 2nd Annual Invitational Billfish Tournament or the Club please visit; www.hbgfc.com
The Houston Big Game Fishing Club was incorporated in the summer of 2004 as a Texas Non-Profit Corporation and is organized for educational, social, pleasure and recreational purposes and to foster, promote and increase the interest in the sport of big game fishing and related fields. The Houston Big Game Fishing Club places a priority on youth projects and it’s Scholarship Program. The Club has over 200 members and has already awarded over $60,000 in college scholarships and an additional $35,000 in hurricane relief to the big game fishing industry.
|
|
|
|
|
