First place was won by Brunswick, Georgia’s Handy Jernigan on the Reel Handy, a 23’ Yamaha powered Contender, sponsored by Waverly Wood Flooring.  They caught their tournament winning 33.64 pound king fishing just north of St. Simons Inlet in 40 feet of water on a double pogie rig.  Jenigan told me that they caught thirteen kingfish between 8 and 10 am.  He said that those two hours was the best bite they and seen in years.  It didn’t matter what bait they used, as soon as they put something out behind the boat it got eaten.  “An old charter guy friend of mine gave me the numbers years ago” said Handy.  “The water temperature looked good so we started chumming and the fish started chomping.”  For their efforts Team Reel Handy went home with a --new Mercury powered Carolina Skiff and trailer valued at close to $20,000.

Ryan and Jennifer Rogers along with Jamie Gordy, fishing in their 23 foot Mercury powered Sea Fox, the Reel Habit, sponsored by Coastal Stump Grinding and Southeast Plumbing, would take home the second place award for their 33.44 pound fish that they caught in 55 feet of water on Gray’s Reef.  “We had caught a few fish in the area the week before the tournament,” said Ryan. “Fishing was slow and we only caught a couple small kings and some sharks when around 12:30 our big fish ate a pogie right behind the boat.  Luckily we were able to put the fish in the boat before the storm hit us.”  Jennifer also took home the tournament’s Top Lady Angler award.

Another Class boat, The Knot Right, Bob Black’s new Mercury powered Onslow Bay, skippered by his son, Cory Black, landed a 32.73 pound king to take home the third place check.  They were fishing an area due east of Sea Island in 55 feet of water over some hard bottom were they caught a couple twenty pounders pre-fishing on Friday.  “Our big fish ate the one of the first baits that we put out at around 7:10 in the morning” said Black.

The Reel Shady, Capt James Bryant’s Mercury powered Fountain with James Traylor on board, finished in fourth place with a 32.09 king that they caught just north of Nassau Sound where they found some clean water at the right temperature and stopped to fish.  Their big fish ate a google-eye fished in the prop wash at around 8:30 in the morning. 

Steve Pello and Cole Morris fishing on the Clean Catch, a Yamaha powered Yellowfin, anchored up and chummed near the “D” Bouy where they heard that some decent fish were caught during the week prior to the tournament.  They caught a couple good kings early in the day.  Around 10:00 a fish ate a pogie fished on the surface right behind the boat.  “At first we thought that it might be a Spanish,” said Pello.  “The fish didn’t fight at all.  It didn’t take out any line and came right to the boat.”  The “Spanish” would weigh in at 28.05 pounds and give the team a fifth place finish.

The sixth place prize was won by Sammy Perkins and his crew with a 27.90 pound fish caught on the Longshot, a Yamaha powered Cape Horn.  The Noe Doubt, skippered by Dennis Noe with Ronald Webb and Michel Chanclor on board, finished in seventh for their 26.86 pound king.  Brad Yeomans along with Ward Harvey, and Michael Moore took home the eighth place prize for a 25.42 on the Underdawg, a 32’ Mercury powered Donzi boat.

Michael Woolard, Walt Rogers, Michael Lamb, and Richie Deloach fishing on Woolard’s Blue Ribbon captured the ninth place award and tenth place would go to the Rocky Top, Jim and Royce McBride’s Yamaha powered Scout for their 24.33 pound kingfish.

In its maiden SKA event, The Pot Luck II, a 23’ Sea King, captained by Wendell Wells with his wife Marcia, son Cain and David Talbot on board, fished an area ten miles east of Sapelo on the Cabbretta Bottom where they had caught several kings the Sunday prior to the tournament.  At around 7:30 a fish ate a pogie way back behind the boat.  Eleven year-old Cain, with a little help from his mom, fought the king to the boat.  Cain’s fish would weigh 33.22 pounds on the Capt. Hap’s scales; the third largest fish weighed during the event and a first place in the Class of 23 and would also give Cain the top Junior Award.  They would like to thank their sponsor, Coastal Boating Center, for their support.

Scott Harding, Ryan Ferrell, and Marion Surrency, fishing on the Big Fishin’, another Mercury powered Fountain, finished second in the Class of 23.  They were also fishing an area near the “D” Buoy just inside of Greys Reef where their Roff’s Report showed a temperature break.   Apparently that information was right on as they caught several good kings, lost a “Stud” and put their 28.89 pounder in the box. Their big fish ate a ribbonfish trolled thirty feet down at around 11:30.  Scott would like to thank Coca Cola, Weeks Inc’s Dairy Queen, Nitro Signs, Martin Signs & Service as well as Fountain and Mercury for all their support.

Howard Poe and his crew (with lots of help and direction from Miss Amy) did a great job hosting this fun event.  Even the bad weather Saturday afternoon, complete with lightning strikes, driving rain, strong wind gusts complete with several waterspouts that drenched everyone fishing, couldn’t dampen the spirits of everyone that took part.  Though the fishing proved tough for many, the great fishermen from Division 4 made the best of the conditions and brought some great fish to the scales.  Congratulations to everyone who took part!