Size Matters wins 47th Big Rock
June 18, 2005
MOREHEAD CITY N.C. – When it comes to the Big Rock, size matters.
Size Matters, a Maryland-based boat captained by Josh Ruskey, survived a late scare by former champion Dancin’ Outlaw to hold on and win the 47th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.
The Dancin’ Outlaw, winner of the 41st Big Rock in 1999, arrived at the scales Saturday afternoon with a blue marlin that topped out at 507 pounds. That was good enough for third place … but not enough to displace the 529-pounder reeled in Friday by lady angler Gigi Wagoner of Frederick, Md.
Wagoner became just the fourth woman in Big Rock history to land the winning fish. She’s the first lady angler to win the top angler prize since Kathy Keel accomplished the feat in 1993.
“That’s exciting … but it hasn’t hit me yet,” said Wagoner, moments after the learning that the Dancin’ Outlaw’s catch didn’t weigh enough to knock Size Matters out of first place. “I have to tell you, we haven’t been able to relax at all since (taking the tournament lead.) Today, we just hung around the boat and watched movies to try to relax. But we were constantly looking at (offshore) developments on the Internet. When we saw that someone else boated a blue marlin, the whole mood of the (Size Matters fishing team) changed.”
While Wood motored to port with the catch that was reeled in by angler Don Pritchard, Wagoner decided to visit the Big Rock headquarters with Size Matters Mate Keith Brandt to buy extra Big Rock T-shirts.
“By then we knew there was just the one fish coming in,” she said. “We might fall (in the standings) … but we weren’t going to fall far.”
As it turned out, they didn’t fall at all. Not when size matters.
Size Matters entered all levels of the tournament to capture $677,800 from the Big Rock’s $1,378,375 purse. Gambler, a Hatteras charter boat captained by Steve Garrett, finished second and collected $249,955. Dancin’ Outlaw, which bumped Lady Lou V’s 500-pound catch from the leader board, receives $165,970.
Finishing second is a bittersweet reward for the Gambler fishing team. Gambler finished second once before, finishing runner-up to the Summertime Blues in 2000 when angler Ron Wallschlager of Kiawah Island, S.C., landed a Big Rock record 831-pounder to win the 42nd annual event.
Garrett – who led the 47th Big Rock for four days and the 42nd Big Rock for two days – learned the hard way (twice) that size matters.
“How exciting … we couldn’t have had a better tournament,” said Big Rock tournament director Crystal Watters. “The weather was great throughout the week. Somebody caught a large blue marlin every day. It was exciting for the fans at the weigh station right up to the very last minute. I don’t know if Hollywood could have scripted this any better.”
It was a Hollywood ending for Wood, even though he didn’t finish the 47th Big Rock atop the leader board.
“My son was just four when we won in 1999 and he doesn’t remember anything about it,” Wood said. “Last time, none of my friends were here. They didn’t find out until the next day.
“But this time, everyone found out about it on the Internet and came down to see us. I keep looking around … seeing faces I know. This means the world to me. My son gets to see what the Big Rock is all about. Sure, we wanted to win … and we just missed it … but this is very special … very special.”
The 47th Big Rock turned out to the closest contest in the history of the event. Just 22 pounds separated the three overall winners. Lady Lou V finished out of the money by just seven pounds.
“Everyone had a shot to win … right up to the end,” said Watters. “Anglers tell us they were hooked up to bigger blue marlin than the ones that finished on the leader board. That’s what makes this a great tournament. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Wagoner had never caught or boated a blue marlin before this week. While that’s one of her greatest thrills she really enjoyed a mistake that took 12 years off her age.
“All my friends saw the reports that I was 26,” the 38-year-old said. “They all wondered how I suddenly lost 12 years. That was great.”
But not as great as the celebration she shared with the Size Matters fishing team when they learned that they’d finally won.
“We were running all over the place … we didn’t know what to do,” she said. “I really don’t know what else to say, it just feels good.”
Big Easy, a Hatteras-based boat captained by Clifton Parker, captured the billfish release division to win $66,538. The Big Easy scored 1050 points and finished the tournament with a “grand slam,” releasing a blue marlin, a white marlin and a sailfish.
Second Chance, a Weddington, N.C.-based boat captained by Dale Prox, fiished second in the release standings with 800 points. Second Chance receives $39,140 for being the first to release two blue marlins.
Wave Runner, a Morehead City charter boat captained by Bruce Pollock, finished third in the release division. Wave Runner collects $19,570 for being the second boat to release two blue marlins and score 800 points.
Overall gamefish division winners receive $7,225. Wahoo and tuna division leaders remained unchanged since the first two days of competition. Release, captained by Rom Whitaker, weighed in a 70.70-pound wahoo Tuesday. Frequent Flyer, captained by Glen Loftin, captured the tuna division with a 109.05-pounder landed Monday. Southern Exposure, captained by Rob Gollahon, won the dolphin division with a 60.15-pounder caught Friday.
The six-day competition wraps up Saturday night with an awards banquet set in the Crystal Coast Civic Center. Tournament officials will distribute the $1,378,375 purse to winners and another $114,000 to area charities.
Size Matters wins 47th Big Rock
June 18, 2005
MOREHEAD CITY N.C. – When it comes to the Big Rock, size matters.
Size Matters, a Maryland-based boat captained by Josh Ruskey, survived a late scare by former champion Dancin’ Outlaw to hold on and win the 47th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.
The Dancin’ Outlaw, winner of the 41st Big Rock in 1999, arrived at the scales Saturday afternoon with a blue marlin that topped out at 507 pounds. That was good enough for third place … but not enough to displace the 529-pounder reeled in Friday by lady angler Gigi Wagoner of Frederick, Md.
Wagoner became just the fourth woman in Big Rock history to land the winning fish. She’s the first lady angler to win the top angler prize since Kathy Keel accomplished the feat in 1993.
“That’s exciting … but it hasn’t hit me yet,” said Wagoner, moments after the learning that the Dancin’ Outlaw’s catch didn’t weigh enough to knock Size Matters out of first place. “I have to tell you, we haven’t been able to relax at all since (taking the tournament lead.) Today, we just hung around the boat and watched movies to try to relax. But we were constantly looking at (offshore) developments on the Internet. When we saw that someone else boated a blue marlin, the whole mood of the (Size Matters fishing team) changed.”
While Wood motored to port with the catch that was reeled in by angler Don Pritchard, Wagoner decided to visit the Big Rock headquarters with Size Matters Mate Keith Brandt to buy extra Big Rock T-shirts.
“By then we knew there was just the one fish coming in,” she said. “We might fall (in the standings) … but we weren’t going to fall far.”
As it turned out, they didn’t fall at all. Not when size matters.
Size Matters entered all levels of the tournament to capture $677,800 from the Big Rock’s $1,378,375 purse. Gambler, a Hatteras charter boat captained by Steve Garrett, finished second and collected $249,955. Dancin’ Outlaw, which bumped Lady Lou V’s 500-pound catch from the leader board, receives $165,970.
Finishing second is a bittersweet reward for the Gambler fishing team. Gambler finished second once before, finishing runner-up to the Summertime Blues in 2000 when angler Ron Wallschlager of Kiawah Island, S.C., landed a Big Rock record 831-pounder to win the 42nd annual event.
Garrett – who led the 47th Big Rock for four days and the 42nd Big Rock for two days – learned the hard way (twice) that size matters.
“How exciting … we couldn’t have had a better tournament,” said Big Rock tournament director Crystal Watters. “The weather was great throughout the week. Somebody caught a large blue marlin every day. It was exciting for the fans at the weigh station right up to the very last minute. I don’t know if Hollywood could have scripted this any better.”
It was a Hollywood ending for Wood, even though he didn’t finish the 47th Big Rock atop the leader board.
“My son was just four when we won in 1999 and he doesn’t remember anything about it,” Wood said. “Last time, none of my friends were here. They didn’t find out until the next day.
“But this time, everyone found out about it on the Internet and came down to see us. I keep looking around … seeing faces I know. This means the world to me. My son gets to see what the Big Rock is all about. Sure, we wanted to win … and we just missed it … but this is very special … very special.”
The 47th Big Rock turned out to the closest contest in the history of the event. Just 22 pounds separated the three overall winners. Lady Lou V finished out of the money by just seven pounds.
“Everyone had a shot to win … right up to the end,” said Watters. “Anglers tell us they were hooked up to bigger blue marlin than the ones that finished on the leader board. That’s what makes this a great tournament. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Wagoner had never caught or boated a blue marlin before this week. While that’s one of her greatest thrills she really enjoyed a mistake that took 12 years off her age.
“All my friends saw the reports that I was 26,” the 38-year-old said. “They all wondered how I suddenly lost 12 years. That was great.”
But not as great as the celebration she shared with the Size Matters fishing team when they learned that they’d finally won.
“We were running all over the place … we didn’t know what to do,” she said. “I really don’t know what else to say, it just feels good.”
Big Easy, a Hatteras-based boat captained by Clifton Parker, captured the billfish release division to win $66,538. The Big Easy scored 1050 points and finished the tournament with a “grand slam,” releasing a blue marlin, a white marlin and a sailfish.
Second Chance, a Weddington, N.C.-based boat captained by Dale Prox, fiished second in the release standings with 800 points. Second Chance receives $39,140 for being the first to release two blue marlins.
Wave Runner, a Morehead City charter boat captained by Bruce Pollock, finished third in the release division. Wave Runner collects $19,570 for being the second boat to release two blue marlins and score 800 points.
Overall gamefish division winners receive $7,225. Wahoo and tuna division leaders remained unchanged since the first two days of competition. Release, captained by Rom Whitaker, weighed in a 70.70-pound wahoo Tuesday. Frequent Flyer, captained by Glen Loftin, captured the tuna division with a 109.05-pounder landed Monday. Southern Exposure, captained by Rob Gollahon, won the dolphin division with a 60.15-pounder caught Friday.
The six-day competition wraps up Saturday night with an awards banquet set in the Crystal Coast Civic Center. Tournament officials will distribute the $1,378,375 purse to winners and another $114,000 to area charities.