Seagate KMT 2004
The 8th year of the Seagate King Mackerel Tournament proved to be the biggest year yet for the small boat tournament. There were 42 boats participating in this year’s event, and the weigh-in and awards were moved this year to Dickie’s Tidal Market II. The tournament, limited to boats 23′ and under, paid out over $4,000 in cash and prizes.
The winner was the crew of the “Yankee Doodle.” Wes Ywaskevic, Chris Hanson, and Dylan Roney caught a 25.69 lb. king out at the 12 Mile Rock. They were fishing live menhaden, and hooked the winning king around 2:30 in the afternoon.
They left the dock at 5:00 a.m., but had trouble finding bait and didn’t actually get their bait until 10:00. The crew was also fishing with no gps and only a hand held compass on the 19′ Carolina Skiff. Wes Ywaskevic said of his finish, “This win is dedicated to my loving fiancé.” Ywaskevic also said, “I found out last week that we’ve got a baby on the way,” and added that the cash prize for first place was good timing.
“Wet Dream” took second place with a 22.07 lb. king. Dustin Heath, Andrew Arndt (a staff writer for Fisherman’s Post), Ryan Hunnicut, and Reid Duke caught the second place fish at the 23 Mile Rock on a live menhaden.
Third place went to the 20.38 lb. king brought in by “Reel Adventure.” Capt. Matt Wirt and Mike Mitchell ran to Frying Pan Tower in the morning, and then caught the king on their way back to Masonboro Inlet. The king bit on a dead ribbonfish set on the downrigger.
Mike Gilliland and Bob Chatelain took fourth place with a 14.4 lb. king. The king hit a cigar minnow on the 162 line.
Fifth place went to the last king weighed in. Chris Koller and Rick Croson, employees at Tex’s Tackle, found a 13.73 lb. king by trolling a cigar minnow at the 23 Mile Rock.
Tournament Director Jamie Rushing created the Seagate King Mackerel Tournament as a way to guarantee at least one day a year that he could fish with all his friends. He attributed this year’s big turnout to the great conditions and the fact that the king fishing has been great this year. Rushing added, “I’d like to thank everyone that helped out with this year’s tournament, the sponsors and the participants. I’d also like to give a special thank you to Dickie and Sandra at Tidal Market and Dennis Rushing, my dad, who helped out tremendously.”
