Contact: Karen McGinley
Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament
305-598-2525
[email protected]
Date: 4/7/03
UPDATED 4-15-2003
Check out the the tournament photos at:
http://www.miamibillfish.com/pressphotos.html
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War on the Waves
Combat has never been so fierce as it was at the 21st Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament this weekend at Miami Beach Marina on South Beach in Florida. 451 anglers on 109 boats fighting for close to $150,000 in cash prizes, trophies and special award merchandise made it an exciting competition!
Boats set out full throttle on Friday, April 4th with perfect Florida sailfish weather. The first fish of the tournament was caught just two minutes after lines-in-the-water, an exhilarating and profitable $1,000 start for Doree Lewis aboard Kattitude. Fishing remained equally exciting all day long with a whopping 125 sailfish releases for the day. Team Freedom, a professional fishing team aboard a 43’ Express Viking with Walther and Esther Vazquez, Roy Huff and Warren Sands, and their very well known captain, John Louis Dudas, took the lead this first day, releasing 8 fish. Another eleven boats all came in with six fish each, earning their positions by the clock. By the end of Friday, it was clear that the competition was going to be tough.
On Day Two, Team Vitamin Sea II got into motion, releasing seven fish adding to their six the day before. That brought the team to the top of the leaderboard. Freedom, however, was still hot on their trail with only two fish behind. Miss Britt, J Hook and Never Say Never were all tied for third with 800 points each. With fishing this hot though, it was anyone’s tournament. The Amateur Team, Harmelss Error, found four more fish to add to their three from the day before. Bull Shot, Reel Revenge and Sea Walker also got four. An enormous 44.7 pound Dolphin was brought to the docks by Rob Ramirez aboard Miss Britt. It was definitely going to be tough on the others to beat Rob out of the $5,000 cash prize for this monster. Saturday night parties ended earlier for many of the teams, making sure they were in peak condition for the final day’s fight.
In the meantime, huge crowds gathered on the baywalks and enjoyed the free daily dock parties, game fish weigh-ins and its festivities. The weather remained picture perfect throughout the weekend. Hooters, Presidente Beer, and Bacardi Girls served up plenty of smiles to the hungry and thirsty fisherman and spectators. Famous marine artist, Dr. Guy Harvey was also on deck signing autographs and exhibitors lined the baywalk selling and raffling off an abundance of different items, while local conservation organizations promoted their achievements.
Setting off the last day, still neck and neck for top placements, the anglers were definitely tense. When they left the docks that morning, Vitamin Sea II and Freedom were still fishing for first. Harmless Error and Miss Britt were tied at 3rd, plus there were another six boats all tied for 4th place. One simple fish could really determine the winner. Still no wahoo caught, several boats went searching for this fish that could award them a grand, even for a small one. Team No Mercy, who compete internationally aboard their 36’ Contender, with anglers Rob Ruwich, Albert Castro, Rick Arnold, Brian Boylin and Capt. Steve Cunningham got three fish and pulled themselves in to Third Place. Vitamin Sea II and Freedom both had incredible fishing days again, but in the end, it was Team Vitamin Sea II that won the lot with a final 3200 points! Team Freedom, with 2800 points took home second place, $25,865 cash, plus the Stren Family Billfish Award, El Ocotal’s Top Outboard Boat Angler Second Place Pot of Gold and a Dynamite Daily. Not only that, for fishing the top three billfish tournaments this year, Team Freedom won $10,000 cash in the Miami Beach Marina Libertad Challenge sponsored by Shelly Realty!
Lady Angler, Nicole Roy came in not only as the Top Lady Angler, she also won Second Place Angler overall! Fishing aboard Miss Britt, she also one the Top Inboard Boat Angler award.
Tim Maddock and his two-man team with Kenny McArthur, posed for photos winning the Lowrance First Place Team Division, Hot Rods Master Angler award, Presidente Grand Anglers award, Boater’s World Pot of Gold one of Costa del Mar’s Dynamite Dailies, the WBS Top Billfish Angler award, plus $59,172 cash!
In the Funfish Division Paul Paolucci brought in a winning kingfish at 44.6 lbs., Thomas Paige took home first place wahoo trophy and $1,000 by catching a 35.6 pounder, and Glen Wooten certainly ate well with his 26 lb. tuna. Finally, Rob Ramirez held his position and earned $5,000 cash for his 44.7 lb. Dolphin. Twelve year old, Kaleb Carr aboard Never Say Never earned the title of Junior Master Angler. Teammates, Bruce Marx, Alan Ross, Bob Chang and Ernie Valdes gave credit to their 27’ Contender Harmless Error with twin Yamaha 250’s for helping them win Bacardi’s Top Amateur Boat award.
In all, $40,000 was raised and donated to area marine conservation organizations, fulfilling the Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament’s mission to promote awareness and assist in marine enhancement and conservation.
