Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament
Celebrating its 40th year, the recent Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament enjoyed perfect weather and represented the third and final leg of the Bermuda Triple Crown Billfish Championship.
A total of 27 teams competed for over $220,000 in cash plus prizes. Coming off their third place finish in the Billfish Blast team Mama Who fishing with Bermuda Captain Alan Card on Challenger kept the momentum going hooking into a large blue on the first morning of competition.
Angler Elaine Jones took less than 40-minutes to bring the blue along side where the call was made to boat the fish which came in at an impressive 594-pounds.
But later in the day it was team El Cazador with Captain Mike Kennedy, mate Stephen Parker with angler Sail Rick who caught the largest fish at 622-pounds to take the Daily Marlin Jackpot.
Another team riding momentum from their Big Game Classic win was Callie Girl who released two blues on the first day of the Sea Horse to take the Day One Release Jackpot worth $14,400.
After only 11-minutes from the 8.00am lines-in call on the second day team Mama Who on Challenger called in a double for Elaine Jones and Ronnie Burbage who both successfully caught their fish to win the Day Two Release Jackpot.
Despite not catching a fish on the third and final day team Mama Who’s 1594 points from the two blue releases and the weighed 594 on Challenger was enough to win the Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament, $40,050 in cash purse and an invitation to the Offshore World Championship.
At the awards banquet it seemed fitting that Alan and his son Ian Card who have been competing in all of Bermuda’s tournaments for decades would get the win on this anniversary event. Congratulations to Challenger and team Mama Who including Elaine Jones, Blue Morgan, Robbie Davies, Ronnie Burbage, Sales DeLaBorre.
Within minutes of Challenger’s successful double on the second day of fishing team No Vacancy with Captain Eric Soderholm and mate Chris Weeks scored a double of their own for anglers Stephen Sorbaro and Peter Vasconcelos. They lost the Daily Jackpot on time but earned a total of 1500-points to place second in the competition winning $13,500.
Team Tease Em with captain Neil Petersen and mates Diego Esquiel and Brian Speedy enjoyed having angler Sherry Jones catch a blue each day in the tournament earning 1500-points to take top angler awards and third place in the tournament winning $13,500.
Team Uno Mas with Captain Tommy Lynskey and mate Sander Evans hit a big Overall Billfish Release Jackpot worth $36,000 for their two blue marlin releases by angler Brooks Smith and a white marlin release by Sean Gallagher. Teams No Vacancy and Tease Em were not registered in the Jackpot.
No one could best the El Cazador 622-blue caught by angler Sail Ricks so the Daily Marlin Jackpots and the Overall Marlin Jackpot all rolled up to their fish.
On the final day of fishing El Cazador angler Sarah Ricks caught the first blue to win the Day Thee Release Jackpot on time and lift their total winnings to $102,600. What a great end to the season for the three generations of team El Cazador family including Bobby, Sue, Sail, Sarah, Gillian and Jack Ricks.
The awards presentation took place at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and featured food, tournament video and awards presentation.
Well done Alan.