OIFC Far Out Shootout 2007
For 2007, the Ocean Isle Fishing Center Far Out Shoot Out tried a new format: boats chose two out of eight possible fishing days between Saturday, May 12, and the following Saturday. A tournament record total of 46 boats registered to fish the event, and despite rough weather for much of the week, the two fishing day format worked well. Most boats chose to fish either the opening Saturday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or the closing Saturday as fishing days.
The scales reflected how hot the bite was out in the blue water, particularly on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the top four teams posting 3 fish aggregate weights of over 100 lbs. The aggregate category required that a boat have one tuna, one dolphin, and one wahoo, and many boats caught all three species in one day of fishing—achieving the coveted “Carolina Meat Fish Slam.”
Top boat “Job Site,” from Ocean Isle, posted an aggregate weight of 111.6 lbs., or points as far as the leader board was concerned. Brothers Jeremy and Jason Foster and Bryan Williams chose to fish Tuesday and Wednesday aboard the “Job Site,” a 33’ Palmetto. Their impressive aggregate weight included a 48.5 lb. yellowfin tuna (third biggest caught in the Shoot Out), a 41.8 lb. dolphin (second largest caught), and a 21.3 lb. wahoo.
Williams and the Fosters caught the tuna and dolphin on Tuesday, and the wahoo on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the crew headed out in 2-4’ seas to the Same Ol’ Hole. Once there, the waves calmed down, and Jeremy Foster hooked the 48 lb. yellowfin which ate a pink/blue skirted ballyhoo. Later in the day, Jason Foster caught the 41 lb. dolphin on a ballyhoo under a crystal/green skirt. The two big fish were part of “Job Site’s” Tuesday catch of 14 dolphin, two tuna, and two wahoo. Jason Foster also reported losing a monster 75 lb. class tuna at the boat around 12:30 on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the team fished further south between the 170 and 225 Lines. Foster described the weather Wednesday as “bumpy on the way out and bumpy on the way in.”
The 22 lb. wahoo hit a purple/black skirted ballyhoo, and Williams fought it to the boat. Aside from the wahoo, the team found 20 lb. class dolphin virtually everywhere they fished along the break Wednesday.
The “Job Site” team took home a big first place check for $11,500, including money won in the High Roller’s TWT. The crew would like to express their gratitude to Brant and Amy McMullan for putting on such an outstanding event.
Sunset Beach-based “7th Heaven” was right on the heels of the “Job Site,” posting a three fish aggregate of 110.7 lbs. A 40.55 lb. yellowfin, a 32.15 lb. dolphin, and a 38 lb. wahoo made up the total, and the crew caught all three big fish on Wednesday. “7th Heaven” owner and captain Larry Spainhour fished the event with crew members Ken Craven, Jason Gore, and Kent Gunter aboard his 24’ Mako.
The “7th Heaven” team used Saturday, May 12, as their first fishing day, but found only small dolphin at their chosen fishing ground, the Winyah Scarp. On Wednesday, they elected to head to the 100/400 in the hopes of finding some prize winning fish.
The bite out at the 100/400 was wide open. “We caught a boat load of fish,” said Spainhour. “We all caught fish, but wouldn’t you know it, the captain caught all the biggest ones.”
The team found their 40 lb. tuna in 220’ of water early in the day and caught some nice dolphin. With those quality fish in the boat, they decided to move in shallow to hunt down a wahoo. In around 170’ of water they caught the 32 lb. dolphin, and soon afterward came their wahoo. They were fishing an area with no significant temperature break and no weedlines, but plenty of flying fish.
The reward for “7th Heaven’s” second place finish was $1500, and Spainhour would also like to thank the McMullans for putting together such a fine tournament, and all the sponsors that made the event possible.
In third place, with 105.35 points, was Dean Spatholt’s “Fish Meister” team. They also brought in the tournament’s heaviest tuna, at 51.45 lbs. A 19.8 lb. dolphin and a 31.5 lb. wahoo filled out their aggregate weight. Third place was worth $1000, along with an additional $750 for the event’s biggest tuna.
Skip Opalko, aboard the “No Problem,” took fourth place with 104.25 points. He also had the second heaviest tuna in the event at 50.6 lbs.
Fifth place went to Lee and Nathan Frick, aboard the “Frick’n Fish’n,” for an aggregate weight of 85.35 lbs.
The Far Out Shoot Out’s largest dolphin, and largest fish overall, was a 52.25 lb. beast caught by Tim Garrett on the “Bloodline.” In addition to the $750 for the largest dolphin, Garrett took home $3,000 by winning a TWT for the largest single fish of the tournament.
John Bird, aboard the “Living Water,” brought in the largest wahoo of the event, at 47.4 lbs., taking home $750. Bird also weighed the 36.2 lb. third place dolphin.
The second place, 47.0 lb. wahoo, was caught by Bob Chinn, on the “Dirty Dog.” Roger Gales, of the “Showtime,” took third place, weighing a 46.65 lb wahoo.
Even with the ugly forecast for part of the week, the competition in the 2007 Far Out Shoot Out was tense, with first and second place overall, first and second tuna, and first and second wahoo all separated by less than one pound.
The event continues to be Brunswick County’s premiere blue water tournament, and is obviously scheduled at the perfect time of year to take advantage of all the Gulf Stream species that migrate through local waters.
