Team Get Lit dominated the World Sailfish Championship, the richest tournament of its kind in the world, with a tournament-record 22 releases in winning its third title in the million dollar event’s seven-year history.  Their first place finish earned the team over $340,000 in winnings.

Owner Kitt Toomey added to his championships in 2003 and 2007 - and a fifth place finish in 2004 - by leading the event for all three days.
When asked how it felt to win a third time, Toomey responded “This is the biggest tournament we look forward to the most and it feels like our hard work has paid off.  This time feels like the best.”

Under Captain Quinton Dieterle for the first time, with crew Peter Miller, Kelly Mayo, Jon Cooper, Cap Hinkley and Claudio Martinez, they won by three releases over Team Excavator, captained by Brandon Mullar.

Weez in the Keys, captained by Dave Morris, also released 19 sailfish, but was third on time.

The top three teams in the 77-boat fleet all achieved more than 14 releases. An overall tournament record of 564 releases was set.

“Another record year,” said Chris King, tournament chairman. “Incredibly, this year we had a record number of releases even with 20 percent fewer boats due to economic conditions.

“Congratulations to Team Get Lit. To win this tournament three times is an unbelievable feat. They’re the only team to win more than once.”

For the first two days of fishing, conditions were perfect for kite fishing with 368 sails released.

By the end of day two, Team Get Lit was in front with 16 releases; followed by Weez in the Keys with 14.

On the final day, fishing was idyllic with winds of 10 to 12 knots out of the east.  The current fell off which kept the bite from being perfect – although 196 sailfish were still released. While the lead changed several times on the final day, Team Get Lit managed to pull ahead for good.

Final payout was over $1,000,000, and in addition to that more than $100,000 was given to charity.  Final results are available at www.worldsailfish.com.

Lines out Thursday marked the end of the regular of the inaugural Sailfish Pro Series, a season-long NASCAR style point race culminating in a post-season playoff.  The post season finale will be held in Miami, Florida from May 1-3 with the top five point-leaders and one wild card team competing for the title. Team Rock Star came out on top followed by Advanced Roofing, Jichi, Weez in the Keys, Hostile and wild card winner Team Cracker. Live scoring and results for the playoffs can be found at on the official Sailfish Pro Series website www.sailfishseries.com.

Over the course of seven months, 17 teams have been competing in five world class sailfish tournaments – which comprise the Sailfish Pro Series – for the $100,000 prize and the title of Best of the Best.