CCSA Cobia Tournament 2006
The Carteret County Sportfishing Association (CCSA) held their annual cobia tournament over the weekend of June 3-4 out of Beaufort, NC. The top cobia, an 80 lb. class fish, barely beat out the second place cobia, also an 80 lb. class fish. The difference in weight was only 1/100 of a pound.
“Reel Doctor” took the top prize this year with an 83.3 lb. cobia. “Reel Doctor” is crewed by Jeremy and Christie Cannon, from Beaufort, and Jean Paul Harrell, from Winterville.
They caught the 83.3 lb. cobia at 7:15 on Saturday, the first day of fishing, just off of Shackleford Banks. The cobia hit a dead shad, and it only took about 10 minutes to bring in the fish.
“The gaffing went smooth,” said Jeremy Cannon, “but we did put two gaffs in him.”
This is the third time that “Reel Doctor” has won the CCSA Cobia Tournament.
Second place went to Michael Tickle. Tickle, from Beaufort, was fishing with Stuart Flynn, from Bettie, NC.
Their 83.2 lb. cobia, caught on Sunday, weighed 1/100 of a pound less than “Reel Doctor’s” fish.
Their hookup came at 4:00 am at the Cape. The cobia hit a dead shad.
Tickle also recorded the tournament’s heaviest spanish, a 3.6 lb. fish that was good for an additional payout of over $400.
Adam price took third place with an 81.8 lb. cobia. Price, from Core Creek, caught the cobia at 7:15 am on Saturday. He was fishing at the Cape using a dead shad.
The rest of the top ten is as follows: Bobby Cuthrell in fourth with a 60.7 lb. cobia; George Beckwith in fifth with a 58.8 lb. cobia; Paul Gillikan in sixth with a 52.7 lb. cobia; James Williams in seventh with a 47.8 lb. cobia (Williams also had the heaviest bluefish—9.2 lbs.—for an additional payout of over $700); Mark Hoff in eighth with a 29.4 lb. cobia; Shane Nelson in ninth with a 28.5 lb. cobia; and Randy Rouse in tenth with a 21.9 lb. cobia.
The major sponsors of the CCSA Cobia Tournament are Trent Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac & GMC and Smithfield’s chicken and BBQ of Morehead City.
The tournament is a club fundraiser and proceeds go to artificial reef projects, Take a Kid Fishing, and college scholarships.
