Long Bay Lady Angler 2004
There were 73 boats competing in the 16th annual Long Bay Lady Angler Tournament held August 6-8 in Oak Island. The weather conditions were great right on the beach, but there weren’t any fish on the beach. Boats that ventured off the beach found a NE wind of 20 mph and seas over 6 feet. However, the boats that took on the seas ultimately took home the cash prizes as payment for getting a little beat up.
The big winner was the boat “Spread M Wide.” Angler Danielle Stiller, Katherine Easley, and Frankie Easley caught a 30.70 lb. king at the 30/30 on a 12″ mullet. They hooked the fish at 11:00, and the fight lasted about 5 minutes. The young crew has an interesting resume. Katherine won Sweet Teen and Frankie got second place in Junior Angler in last year’s Long Bay Lady Angler. Danielle had never caught a fish, either saltwater or freshwater, before the 30 lb. king. Said one of her crew members, “She was just the first one to the rod.” The winning king brought the team over $3,400 in cash and prizes.
Second place went to “Clearly Hooked.” Brenda Pritchard caught a 26.92 lb. king at the Jungle on a double pogy rig on the long line. Her hook-up came at 12:00, and the fight lasted about 45 minutes. Her crew included Elizabeth Thomas. Second place paid out over $1,575 in cash and prizes. The crew, aka the Brick Landing Golf Course Fishing Team, had lost a bigger king earlier in the day. They had the other king at the boat, but it spooked when it saw the gaff and dove down and broke off.
“Strictly Business” took third place with their 20.12 lb. king, but they won the TWT. Angler Lee Anne Crouch, Keri Crouch, and Gaye Muncy were the big payout winners, taking in over $3,700 in cash and prizes. Their king came from the 65′ Hole, and they caught it on a pogy. It took 30 minutes to bring the king in. The 20 lb. king was the only strike the boat had other than a shark.
Fourth place went to Linda Gambino on the “Fish Buster.” Linda, LouAnne Gambino, and Jill Gambino found a 19.04 lb. king at the Navy Wreck on a menhaden. The 6 to 8 foot seas made it necessary for two people to wrap arms around the one fighting the fish.
“Amber Lady” took fifth place with a 18.32 lb. king. Marissa Beckman caught the king inshore of Light House Rock on a pogy. She was fishing with Billie Boulton, Michelle Beck, and Barbara Musgrave.
Becky King, fishing on “Wide Spread,” took sixth place with a 14.92 lb. king. King, and crew member Ginny Callihan, caught the king just off the beach of Lockwood Folly Inlet on a pogy.
“Pier Pressure” and Amanda Rogers took seventh with a 12.12 lb. king. Rogers, fishing with Sherry McAbe, caught the king at the 18 mile marker on a live pogy.
In eighth place was Janie Barnhardt and the “Judy B.” Barnhardt caught the 10.88 lb. king a little past the Jungle on a pogy. She was fishing with Jody Brock.
The Forever Young award went to Cheryl Popovec. Popovec caught a 15.50 lb. king on a tideline in the Cape Fear River Channel. She was fishing with Karen Parkin and Rebecca Popovec on the “Blue Heaven.”
The Sweet Teen award went to Holly Demyan (age 14) for her 13.78 lb. king. Demyan, fishing on the “Final Approach,” caught the king at the Jungle on a mullet.
The Junior Angler award went to Keri Crouch (age 10), fishing on the “Strictly Business.”
The Smallest Fish award went to Jill Gambino for a 5.92 lb. king.
The Business Division was won by Easley Construction, represented by the boat “Spread M Wide.”
The top three finishers in the Oak Island Fishing Club division were “Spread M Wide” in first, “Strictly Business” in second, and “Fish Buster” in third.
