Rick Myrick, left, and Chris Furr of the “Reality Check” celebrate
after the weigh in of two red snappers, both about 33 pounds.

By Gretchen Parker
STAFF WRITER

It took three men to lift the 76 pound Warsaw grouper out of the ice and onto the scale at the Hernando de Soto Fishing Tournament on Sunday afternoon.

Spectators stood on tiptoes to peek over each others’ shoulders. Jaws dropped when they saw what boat captain Tommy Butler's crew had pulled in — the gray grouper was almost as long as the men who carried it.

Butler bellowed to the crowd that was pushing to get a closer look, as he hoisted the gigantic fish out of the boat's refrigerated, locker. He was covered with sweat and grinning from ear to ear. He had not slept in two days.

“You achieve a lot of peace by going out there,” said Butler, who lives in Pinellas County and is a third generation Florida fisherman. “It's a feeling of freedom. There are no people or pressures. It's something you can't achieve when the phone's ringing.

“It's all about what you can do, not what you have to do.”

Butler won the tournament's offshore division for the second year in a row. The prize for first place in each division offshore and inshore was $5,000.

The Historical Society raised $16,000 from sponsorships and entry fees to give away as cash prizes at the weekend's tournament at Twin Dolphin Marina Grill. Sixty-three teams set out Friday evening to fish until Sunday afternoon.

Each team was allowed to weigh in six fish, with fish such as blue marlin earning the most points. Fishermen were responsible for photographing rare and off season fish so they could be released back into the Gulf.

Fish such as dolphin, grouper and kingfish were awarded points based on weight. The boats with the most points in each division were the winners.

“It's like anything — how hard you work at it and how dedicated you are to it,” said Historical Society member Dave Quaderer.  His club organizes the event, which this year raised money to develop a new reef in Manatee County.

Butler's crew on “Reality Check” had motored 127 miles into the Gulf for their catch, which included two shimmering 33-pound red snappers.

Butler's secret? A great line. He uses a high-tech fishing line made in Japan that runs about $70 per 30 meters. It costs $5 to make up each rig, he said. Butler also credits 15 years of experience, and the work of his team of six.

“I do it for the fun, not the money,” he said, smiling.

Staff writer Gretchen Parker can be contacted at 742-6159 or
gretchen.parker@herald-trib.com