Drum Inlet KMT 2006
Although the weathermen predicted differently, Saturday, October 7 was a beautiful day on the ocean off Cape Lookout, NC, for the final tournament of the 2006 SKA Divison 2 circuit. Seas were a bit bumpy early, but they subsided to less than two feet for most of the day for the 54 participants in the 9th Drum Inlet King Mackerel Tournament.
The “Long Overdue” fishing team, consisting of Paul Prystash and Phil Cottrell, caught a 40.52 lb. king mackerel to nail down victory in the event. They brought the fish to the scales, located at Beaufort’s Town Creek Marina, aboard the “Long Overdue,” a 25′ Mercury-powered SeaCraft. The big king earned the pair a check for $3870.
The winning kingfish bit a naked single pogy rig trolled long. The team was trolling the Summerland Reef when the king bit around 9:00 Saturday morning. After the strike, Cottrell took the rod, and the king ran long and deep. Cottrell fought the fish back towards the boat, but before the anglers could see color, the mackerel took another run, staying down in the water. When the team finally saw the fish for the first time, it was spent. Prystash sank the gaff.
The winning team did not have to worry about catching menhaden Saturday morning, as they caught plenty the Sunday before the tournament and penned it all week.
Prystash wished to thank Mercury Marine, as he is on the Mercury engine program.
The second place 38.78 lb. king was caught by “Team Maycraft,” consisting of John Wilkins and his nephew Jonathan. They caught the fish aboard their 27′ Maycraft powered by twin 225 Mercury Optimax motors. Second place was good for $2394.
A pogy under a yellow/green/orange King Buster fooled the “Team Maycraft” king into biting. The Wilkins team was trolling at 4 Mile Rock in 70′ of water when the fish struck at noon on Saturday. Jonathan Wilkins took the rod after the bite, and the king made a long run, heading away from the boat and towards the bottom. After about 10 minutes of fighting deep, the king came to the surface nearly dead, giving John Wilkins an easy opportunity to gaff it.
“Team Maycraft” got to Harker’s Island at 4:30 Saturday morning to catch bait, but conditions were difficult and the crew slowly picked up pogies one at a time for the next three hours. In addition to the king, they fought lots of sharks and one big false albacore over the course of the day.
John Wilkins wished to thank sponsors Maycraft, Mercury (he’s a member of the Mercury Pro Team), Coastal Carolina Health Care, and Brown’s Tree Service.
Rounding out the top three boats, the “Ocean Athlete” weighed a 35.12 lb. king mackerel for third place. Skip Conklin was fishing with his wife Sandy, son Chris, and teammate Jay Russell aboard the 28′ Mercury-powered Privateer, and the crew pocketed $1836 for third. Sandy Conklin was also the top Lady Angler in the tournament (and the top Lady Angler in SKA Division 2 for 2006).
Trolling inshore of the 30 Minute Rock, the “Ocean Athlete” was pulling a naked pogy on top when the 35 lb. fish bit around 2:30. After biting, the king didn’t tear much line off angler Chris Conklin’s reel. Instead of taking off on a long and fast run like most kings, the “Ocean Athlete” fish swam back and forth on the surface. After around 15 minutes, Chris had the fish close enough to the boat for the gaff shot.
The “Ocean Athlete” caught the third place king amidst a huge school of spanish mackerel.
Skip Conklin wished to express gratitude to team sponsors Mercury Marine and Outback Marine of Morehead City.
Fourth place and $720 went to the “Sea Rat” and Mitch Yates, who caught a 33.16 lb. king. John Albright, fishing aboard the “Sea Rat,” also scored the Senior Angler prize.
A 29.46 lb. king mackerel secured fifth place for Charles Coates and the “Overtime.” The “Overtime” also topped the 23′ and Under Division. Combined, he received a check for $1332.
The Drum Inlet King Mackerel Tournament’s top Junior Angler was Phil Mitchell aboard the “Triple Trouble,” with a 24.66 lb. king.
