These big bruisers have been moving north and now it’s North Carolina’s turn to scale some of these spectacular kings.

The Logans dominated the leaderboard despite the weather forecast, which never turned out as predicted.

The team fished 25 to 30 miles from Atlantic Beach. The duo started at Hatteras but soon discovered there were no fish so moved back to the east side of Cape Lookout, from there it was just pick up and run, pick up and run.

“It was close to 2:30,” said “D.” “She hit a double pogy rig on top and David picked up the rod. He fought her for about 20 minutes fighting five-foot seas also before he had her close enough for me to stick her.”

They were back at the scales at four o’clock and then it was just wait and see, but you have to know a 52.92 is not going to get beat at this time of year.

The Wrightsville Beach ten-year SKA member has a big win plus joins the SKA’s 50-pound Club for ’09. They fish a Yamaha powered Yellowfin.

Our past National Champion, Stan Jarusinski from Swansboro fishing with team members Dave Newsom and Don Poling were fishing 21 miles from the scale.

“We were fishing the 1700 Rock where the water was clear,” said Stanman. “We stayed in the same area all day, digging it out. Our Lowrance unit kept marking big individual fish.”

Their 36.96-second place king ate a double pogy rig off the Scotty Downrigger at three o’clock. Stanman fought the king to the boat where Newsom was waiting with the gaff. She came over the gunwale at 3:30.

“It’s kind of depressing coming to the scale at 4:40 and finding a 52 already on the leaderboard,” said Stanman. “However, we’re really happy for Logan’s Run.  I remember when we caught a 50 in Hatteras. That’s a great feeling!”

Mister Stanman is a Yamaha powered Onslow Bay. They also took first place in the Class of 23.

Bret and Alan Barnes have won more than their share of events, five to be exact. In this one they earned third with a 29.82, a very respectable king.

The Wilmington residents fished a ledge off of Wrightsville Beach. “We were 105 miles from Atlantic Beach, pretty far for the conditions,” said Bret. “We were fishing in 75 feet of water and caught her at two o’clock using a pogy off the downrigger.”

Bret went on to explain, “Once again Terminator leader wire continued to prove its kink resistance. Once we boated the king all we could see was the wire extending out of its mouth, with the trailing VMC treble hook completely in the king’s gut.”

Hot Rod is a Yamaha powered Contender.

Fourth place fell to Al Morris and Brent Bunn on the Mercury powered Privateer, Sea Drag’n, with a 27.88.

Al has more tournament wins than anyone else since becoming a member in ’97. Count them, ten so far and Al is still a young man. This was their first SKA Divisional tournament of the year.

“We chose to fish the east side of Cape Lookout in 120 feet of water,” Al confessed. “Water temperature was a little cooler and there was lots of bait. I’ve caught fish before in the area under the same conditions. There were storms earlier and the water clarity in shore was dirty.”

Brent hooked up around 12:30 when their fish ate a double pogy rig off the long line. “She made one long run offshore, then came back past the boat,” Al added. “Then she settled down and came to my waiting gaff.”

Earning fifth was the Yamaha powered Hydra Sports, Searching II with a 27.50. They were also the second place Class of 23 boat.

Chris Bradford, David Hunnicutt, Kenneth Lane, and junior anglers Cameron Bradford, and Corey Lane, who won Junior Angler honors plus Top SKA Juniors fished the team.

“We were at the rock jetty at Cape Lookout, explained Bradford.

With unfavorable weather, 15 to 20 mph winds and four- to six-foot seas kept us closer to shore.”

David hooked the 27 up at three o’clock.  Ken was at the wheel, while the juniors cleared the lines and pulled up the downrigger, and Chris gaffed the fish. Talk about a real team effort.

Chris went on to explain, “Even though the weather didn’t co-operate, our team worked great together and catching this fish was a great experience for the boys.”

Patrick Shore earned sixth place with a 27.40 fishing his Yamaha powered Sailfish named Shore Thang while Team Blue Water Candy picked up seventh with a 24.52.  Rick Croson Jr., Jody Gay, and Russell Weaver, fish the Evinrude powered Onslow Bay.

Rawhide was eighth with Terry Godwin and Jake Godwin fishing the Evinrude powered Hydra Sports. They scaled a 23.54.

Rounding out the order of SKA teams on the leaderboard was Simply Storage. The Kennedys– Michael, Mark, and Eithan make up the team. Eithan was second place SKA Junior with a 22.20.

Margaret Ferebee won another Top Lady Angler honor. She fishes with her husband Bert on the Second Catch.

The weatherman again was slightly off on his predictions, which certainly cost the event some teams, however everything went off without a hitch and the Raleigh Sportfishing Club again should be applauded for their efforts. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!