Cubera winner from 2005 wins division again this year and TCBA past President Ken Ringe pulls in heaviest dolphin.
The promise of $20,000 in cash prizes and the potential for hundreds of thousands in prizes drew 160 boat entries and 650 anglers for the 20 th Annual TCBA Memorial Weekend Tournament.
Anglers fished for the heaviest dolphin, wahoo, grouper, king mackerel and snapper during the two day offshore tournament. Cash prizes were awarded to first-, second-, third- and fourth-place winners in five categories (first place, $2,000; second place, $1,000; third place, $750; fourth place, $250). Special prizes were also awarded for the top Lady Angler, Junior Angler and the heaviest cobia.
As in prior years, in addition to cash participants were eligible to win an assortment of high-priced prizes. These included two new homes, home theater systems, boats, automobiles, and cash in the weight-match program.
The largest fish taken during the tournament was a 63.88-pound cubera snapper reeled in by Robert Allred while fishing aboard the boat Fish Addict. Last year, Allred won the same division with a 104 pound cubera.
Ken Ringe, President of Bayview Construction Company and former TCBA president, fishing aboard the boat Finest Kind won his class with a 43.91-pound dolphin.
Other division winners included: a 19.87-pound grouper, pulled in by Vincent Randolph fishing aboard the boat Changed Out; a 15.65 pound wahoo, brought in by Donald Bullis fishing aboard the boat Last Minute; a 21.63 dolphin by Ann Dee Bennett for top Lady Angler; a 26.67 kingfish by Tucker Fretwell for top Junior Angler; and a 55.78-pound cobia by Ed Gunderson.
The tournament's Captain's Kick-Off reception and the barbeque awards dinner were held at Sandsprit Park. Finest Kind Marina hosted the weigh-in station.
Unlike past tournaments where boats and extra cash have been given away, this year there were no weight-match winners.
A portion of the tournament proceeds always benefits a Treasure Coast nonprofit organization. This year's designees are Future Builders of America programs in St. Lucie and Indian River counties. According to tournament chairman, Joe Staniewicz, the formation of a Martin County chapter is in the works.
Next year's tournament dates are slated for May 25-27, 2007. For more tournament information and photos, visit
http://www.treasurecoastba.com
Tournament Results
160 boats; 650 anglers
Dolphin
1.43.75 pounds, Ken Ringe, Finest Kind. $2,000.
2.37.49, Greg Steiger, Tension Reel-Lease, $1,000.
3.33.07, Dorane Godwin, Team Bigen, $750.
4.32.56, Chris Watkins, My Other Honey, $250.
Kingfish
1.36.65, Scott Ciliento, Team Greenblock, $2,000.
2.34.31, Randall Dixon, Cowboy Up, $1,000.
3.32.71, Derrick Christensen, Team Hannan, $750.
4.31.32, Charles Chandler, Twin Vee, $250.
Wahoo
1.15.65, Donald Bullis, Last Minute, $2,000.
2.13.53, Ed Malam, Green Machine, $1,000.
3.10.51, Rob Newton, Century, $750.
4.9.50, Joe Trotta, Century, $250.
Grouper
1.19.87, Vincent Randolph, Changed Out, $2,000.
2.16.70, Dorane Godwin, Team Bigen, $1,000.
3.11.18, Gus Pasquale, One N' Done, $750.
4.10.73, Mike Knepper, Jr., Job Site, $250.
Snapper
1.63.88, Robert Allred, Fish Addict, $2,000.
2.39.49, Clint DeLoach, Native, $1,000.
3.24.93, Kirk Clampitt, Nautical Wheeler, $750.
4.21.33, Tasha Bouse, Aratsass, $250.
Lady Angler - 21.63 Dolphin, Ann Dee Bennett, McComas Boat, prizes.
Junior Angler - 27.67 Kingfish, Tucker Fretwell, Lellie Pad, prizes.
Cobia - 55.78, Ed Gunderson, Hot Rods II, prizes.