Records continue to fall all along the Alabama Gulf Coast as yet another fishing tournament meets with outstanding success. This year's Alabama Deep See Fishing Rodeo saw several records broken.
Anglers in last weekend's Orange Beach Billfish Classic turned in record numbers of huge fish. The great fishing off shore in the Gulf of Mexico continues. Look for even more records to fall in this weekend's Conde Cavalier Mardi Gras Fishing Tournament which will be held on nearby Dauphin Island (across Mobile Bay from Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan) at the Dauphin Island Marina.
Caribe captures first-place honors at Billfish Classic
The Caribe caught and released two blue marlin, a white marlin and a swordfish to take top honors at last weekend's Orange Beach Billfish Classic, which raised $60,000 for CCA-Alabama and the Billfish Foundation.
The event, which was held at the Mobile Big Game Fishing Club dock at Orange Beach Marina, had 42 boats from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida entered, and 54 billfish were caught and released.
Several blue marlin were released on 30-pound tackle, while loads of white marlin, a few sailfish and a few swordfish were caught and released.
Caribe, which had the top lady angler (Judy Ramey) aboard, totaled 2,100 points, while Mollie took second over Blue Heron in a tiebreaker. Both boats had 1,800 points, but Mollie prevailed because it had the earliest fish reported.
In the tuna division, Jack Anderson, aboard Peacemaker, won with a 156-pounder, followed by Jeryat Bourg, on First Choice at 155.0 and Dennis Szardwicy aboard Hydro Therapy at 147.8.
Don McMatch, fishing on Tiger Bait, took the wahoo division at 59.6 pounds, followed by Duncan Greenwood on Jammin at 46.0 and Jason Cox on Tar Baby at 39.0.
In the dolphin division, Seth Sutton aboard Full House had the winner at 43.4 pounds, followed by Jason Crider on Mollie at 39.4 and Dalton Nix aboard Cotton Patch at 36.4.