15th Annual Cape Fear Blue Water Open
Captain Jordan Diemer, of Pura Vida, landed The 15th Annual Cape Fear Blue Water Open was a great success this year attracting twenty-nine boats, paying out over $20,000 in angling awards and donating over $2000 to the Eckerd Group Foundation “Camp E-Tik-Etu”. The Open was held over the weekend of May 12 – 15 and headquartered at Bradley Creek Marina.
The Open awarded prizes to the top four largest fish overall, lady angler, top two billfish releases, top two three-fish aggregate prizes, and largest tuna, dolphin and wahoo each day.
Captain John McGuire of Sea Hawk II brought in a Friday Wahoo while trolling between the Black Jack and Steeples area on Friday – weighing in at 56.9 pounds – that outweighed all competitors. This first place finish was Captain McGuire’s first tournament victory in his new 28 Carolina Classic.
Captain Don Pierce of the Blue Marlin brought in the second largest fish of the tournament on Saturday with a 42.4 pound wahoo northwest of the Steeples. His anglers – Ty Cobb, Mark Looney and the tournament sponsoring Hooters Girls – also gathered up Lady Angler and the largest wahoo on Saturday.
Owner and Captain John Horton of Trophy landed a 40.6 pound Wahoo to hold onto third place. Captain John fishes out of a 46 Egg Harbour.
Large Time II and Captain Mike Britt landed the fourth place fish in the tournament. For the last two years his South Carolina Charter has booked him for this tournament. This years winnings were in excess of $2150 – including the fourth place overall, second place in the three-fish aggregate and largest dolphin on Friday.
Drew Kerekes of SeaKer (a 35 Bertram), found the fish on Saturday and rounded up a three-fish aggregate winning 105.7 pounds. Most of his fish were caught northwest of the Steeples, including the largest tuna caught on Saturday weighing 38.6 pounds.
The Billfish Release category was won by Pole Position and Captain Bill Trask with the release of two sailfish on Saturday.
Runner-up in the Billfish Release category was John Lancaster’s 50 Hatteras, Tuna Trappe, captained by Squid.
The Double D (a 52 Viking), piloted by Captain Dave Armour, landed a 38.8 pound tuna. His tuna was strong enough to hold onto largest tuna of the day on Friday.
the largest Dolphin on Saturday going 24.8 pounds.
In addition to thanking all the anglers – who endured some of the bigger seas on Friday – The Cape Fear Blue Water Fishing Club thanks all the tournament sponsors. The Platinum Sponsors include SECOF Construction and Environmental Source Samplers.
Gold Sponsors include Hooters (who put on a great Captain’s Party), Rock 104.5 (for providing publicity and live updates), Sage Island (responsible for the CFBWFC website), Tex’s Tackle and Bug’Em Bait (who remind you to please shop at your favorite local tackle store) and Sea Tow (your road service at sea).
Thanks to many volunteers who helped with the tournament. I hope I haven’t left anyone out.
Tom Clawson
John Bink
Allen Stout
Doug Schaefer & son (he had the shuttle Boat . We couldn’t have done it without him)
Mark Clapp ( a new member)
Jim Gibbons (new member)
Wendy Shorter Bridges (record keeper)
Beth Looney (record keeper)
Heather Farmer (record keeper)
the girls did a great job!
Marc Maus
and myself
Good fishin,
15th Annual Cape Fear Blue Water Open
Captain Jordan Diemer, of Pura Vida, landed The 15th Annual Cape Fear Blue Water Open was a great success this year attracting twenty-nine boats, paying out over $20,000 in angling awards and donating over $2000 to the Eckerd Group Foundation “Camp E-Tik-Etu”. The Open was held over the weekend of May 12 – 15 and headquartered at Bradley Creek Marina.
The Open awarded prizes to the top four largest fish overall, lady angler, top two billfish releases, top two three-fish aggregate prizes, and largest tuna, dolphin and wahoo each day.
Captain John McGuire of Sea Hawk II brought in a Friday Wahoo while trolling between the Black Jack and Steeples area on Friday – weighing in at 56.9 pounds – that outweighed all competitors. This first place finish was Captain McGuire’s first tournament victory in his new 28 Carolina Classic.
Captain Don Pierce of the Blue Marlin brought in the second largest fish of the tournament on Saturday with a 42.4 pound wahoo northwest of the Steeples. His anglers – Ty Cobb, Mark Looney and the tournament sponsoring Hooters Girls – also gathered up Lady Angler and the largest wahoo on Saturday.
Owner and Captain John Horton of Trophy landed a 40.6 pound Wahoo to hold onto third place. Captain John fishes out of a 46 Egg Harbour.
Large Time II and Captain Mike Britt landed the fourth place fish in the tournament. For the last two years his South Carolina Charter has booked him for this tournament. This years winnings were in excess of $2150 – including the fourth place overall, second place in the three-fish aggregate and largest dolphin on Friday.
Drew Kerekes of SeaKer (a 35 Bertram), found the fish on Saturday and rounded up a three-fish aggregate winning 105.7 pounds. Most of his fish were caught northwest of the Steeples, including the largest tuna caught on Saturday weighing 38.6 pounds.
The Billfish Release category was won by Pole Position and Captain Bill Trask with the release of two sailfish on Saturday.
Runner-up in the Billfish Release category was John Lancaster’s 50 Hatteras, Tuna Trappe, captained by Squid.
The Double D (a 52 Viking), piloted by Captain Dave Armour, landed a 38.8 pound tuna. His tuna was strong enough to hold onto largest tuna of the day on Friday.
the largest Dolphin on Saturday going 24.8 pounds.
In addition to thanking all the anglers – who endured some of the bigger seas on Friday – The Cape Fear Blue Water Fishing Club thanks all the tournament sponsors. The Platinum Sponsors include SECOF Construction and Environmental Source Samplers.
Gold Sponsors include Hooters (who put on a great Captain’s Party), Rock 104.5 (for providing publicity and live updates), Sage Island (responsible for the CFBWFC website), Tex’s Tackle and Bug’Em Bait (who remind you to please shop at your favorite local tackle store) and Sea Tow (your road service at sea).
Thanks to many volunteers who helped with the tournament. I hope I haven’t left anyone out.
Tom Clawson
John Bink
Allen Stout
Doug Schaefer & son (he had the shuttle Boat . We couldn’t have done it without him)
Mark Clapp ( a new member)
Jim Gibbons (new member)
Wendy Shorter Bridges (record keeper)
Beth Looney (record keeper)
Heather Farmer (record keeper)
the girls did a great job!
Marc Maus
and myself
Good fishin,