XFX Article

Capt. Tom Butler, left, holds an American red snapper at the tournment Sunday, while, right, Jasson boyle, left, Rick Myrick and Butler unload their catch.

Fishermen reel in large catches, prizes

HEATHER THOMAS
Herald Staff Writer

BRADENTON — Fish stories about the ones that got away were rampant Sunday at the third annual De Soto Fishing Tournament.

But more impressive were the ones that didn't.

Hundreds of pounds of grouper, tuna, dolphin and wahoo were hauled in, as well as snook, redfish, snapper, flounder and trout. A blue marlin, which organizers said was the first-ever caught in a Manatee County fishing tournament, was tagged and released.

The fish hunt began Friday night when the fleet of 67 boats was set free to fish the night — and the next two days — away.

The hunting paid off.

“It's exciting out there on the high seas,” Scott Rickert, a cochairman of the event, said with a laugh. "‘There's a real passion for sport fishing in this county.”

The fishermen agreed. “It was very nice, calm,” said Sam Stewart of the Reflections fishing team.

He and Capt. Pat Johnson’s crew cruised more than 120 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. They caught most of their haul about 98 miles out in 545 feet of water, Stewart said.

The team brought in a 48-pound wahoo, 25-pound dolphin and 22pound tuna, not to mention the blue marlin. “We did pretty good,” Johnson said. “We did a good trip.”

They weren't the only ones with a good catch. Team Galati pulled in five large groupers and a snapper, Rich Gupton said.

“It's wonderful,” he said of the tournament. ‘You couldn't ask for anything better. Bigger fish, maybe.”

The tournament was set up in three divisions; a junior division for children younger than 18, inshore adults and offshore adults. Entry fees were $75 for the juniors and $175 for the adults. The fees went toward cash prizes, merchandise prizes and running the event. Any leftover funds went to the event organizer, the Hernando de Soto Historical Society, which stages the annual Florida Heritage Festival at Bradenton each spring.

Cash prizes were $5,000 for first place, $2,000 for second and $1,000 for third in the adult divisions. Those who placed fourth through 10th received merchandise prizes.

In the junior division, merchandise prizes were given to the first-, second- and third-place winners. Trophies were also awarded in each division.

In addition, an auction of prizes that included a fishing charter trip and a night on the town complete with limo ride, raked in $3,250 for an artificial reef, said Capt. Jeff Braaten, the event chairman.

Together with the county government, the historical society will buy reef balls to set out to build a reef, he said. The location of the reef has not yet been decided, he said, adding that the decision will be made by. county officials.

Tournament winners

Winners in the third annual De Soto Fishing Tournament are:

Offshore Division:
• First, $5,000 — Tommy Butler and crew aboard the Reality Check.
• Second, $2,000 — Scott Rickert and crew aboard the Reel Screamer Too.
• Third, $1,000 — Patrick Johnson and crew aboard the Reflections.
• Outstanding Offshore Catch award — Erik Johnson of the Reflections for a blue marlin.

Inshore Division:
• First, $5,000 — Stephen Barron and crew aboard the Leslie Barron.
• Second, $2,000 — Ryan Rowen and crew aboard the My Pal Al.
• Third, $1,000 — Mark Rankin and the crew aboard the Megalops.
• Outstanding Inshore Catch award — Josh Knapek of the Wasp for a 31-pound permit.

Junior Division:
• First — Josh Knapek and friends in Wasp.
• Second — George Dunne in Extreme.
• Third — Josh Perifoy in Captain Morgan.
• Fourth — Nance Jerry in New Tide Wheeler.

Team Competition:
• First — Bob Permane and the Condition II and Scott Greer and the Stray Dog tied with Jim Stanek and Wrench Em’ In and Tim Lehman and the Hummer.

Heather Thomas, East Manatee community reporter, can be reached at 745-7024 or at hthomas@bradenton.com