Reality Check, Megalops win at DeSoto

Members of the jack family dominated both inshore and offshore divisions of last weekend’s second annual DeSoto Fishing Tournament.

According to Scott Rickert, Bradenton sportsman who was one of the ramrods of this year’s DeSoto event, 40 boats fished in three different divisions: 17 inshore; 15 offshore and eight junior anglers.

Rickert said this year’s field was exactly that of last year’s numbers and the DeSoto committee felt especially gratified for the showing, considering predictions of sour weather offshore and another area tourney which siphoned off some of the potential competitors.

Captain Tommy Butler’s Reality Check team won the offshore side of the competition with six amberjack that averaged 50 pounds apiece. The winning catch consisted of 21-, 42-, 43-, 45-, 51- and 70-pounders.

Captain Mark Rankin, professional guide who specializes in tarpon and permit, put his Megalops crew on four permit weighing 11 and 14 pounds, along with a pair of 15-pounders with a two-pound flounder and a one-pound snapper to top the inshore boats with a total of 259 points.

Winners in both divisions took home $3,000.

Second place inshore went to Captain Kevin Alderer’s Channel Digger with 249 points garnered with a quartet of 31-inch redfish and a 35-inch snook.
Coming in second in the offshore division was Captain Chris Galati and his Team Galati with 330 points of amberjack, ranging from 20 to 68 pounds.
Second place was good for $2,000 per boat.

Longtime ace angler Captain Joe Fisher and his Fish 3 team took fourth in the offshore category with 236 points, capped by a 16-pound grouper.

In the junior anglers division (all aboard must be tinder 18 years old) Captain Cory Catts team Reel Fishing caught six redfish ranging from 22 to 31 inches for first place.

In second place with three redfish and a snapper were Captain Jesse Salain and his teammate Wesley Blake with three redflsh and three snapper.

Captain Kyle Kieppinger’s Key West team came in third with three flounder, two redfish and a snapper worth 196 points.

The remainder of the adult standings were: In fifth through 10th place in inshore was Captain Scott Wilson’s Enterprise team with 209 points.

Captain Mike Heistand’s Magic team with 204 points; Captain Danny Evers’ team with 202 points;  Captain Scott Witaker’s Flat Outa‘ Control with 200 points; Captain Tom McGuire’s Harbor Rat crew pro-duced 183 points and Captain Christopher O’Leary with 180 points.

Offshore standings were only announced to seventh place. Fifth through seventh were: Captain Ron Picklesiemer’s Sweet Pea team with 175 points; Captain Tom Houck with his Good Old Boy crew and 173 points and Captain Jeff Morriso points aboard Attitude Adjustment.

Rickert said the Comittee is excited already about the 1999 tourney and working to put it together.