Weather and fishing conditions were not ideal for the 13th annual Bald Head Island Fishing Rodeo. Friday, June 4, was the first fishing day and seas were 3 to 4 foot in the morning and increased to 4 to 5 foot in the afternoon. By Friday afternoon, the wind was blowing 15 to 20 mph out of the southwest. On Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m., winds were 25 knots. The wind tapered off to 5 to 10 knots by the afternoon, but only 4 boats took on the hard morning conditions. A total of 22 boats entered the tournament. Only four boats fished on Saturday
The overall tournament winner was the “Musicman” with Captain Freddie Holland. He weighed in a total of 217.31 lbs. of qualifying fish. First place prize money this year was $5,610. Second place went to the “Rajin Regan” and Captain Dell Murphy. His two-day total was 210.69 lbs., and that won him $2,856. Captain Brian Peele and the “Marquesa” took third place with 173.54 lbs. Their efforts brought them $1,734.
Fourth place overall went to the “Wahoo Wagon” and Captain Elliot Koonce. The “Wahoo Wagon” had a total of 123.94 lbs. Captain Don Dry and the “Intimidator” finished in fifth place with 69.89 lbs.
The winner of the Lady Angler was Kimberly Jessen. Her winning fish was a 50.85 lbs. tuna. Jessen was fishing on the “Musicman.”
On Day 1, the daily winner of the Dolphin Category was Captain Robb Mothershed and the “Great Escape” with a 29.18 lb. fish. Captain Freddie Holland and the “Musicman” won both the Tuna and the Wahoo daily with a 52.06 lb. tuna and a 35.88 lb. wahoo.
On Day 2, the daily winner of the Dolphin was Captain Don Dry and the “Intimidator” with a 35.29 lb. dolphin. There wasn’t a wahoo weighed on Day 2, but Captain Brian Peele of the “Marquesa” won the Tuna Category with one weighing 38.02 lbs.