Big Mack KMT 2004
Saturday, September 11, was the inaugural day for what will be annually known as The Big Mack King Mackerel Tournament, held this year at the Oceana Marina in Carolina Beach. Thirty boats entered the 23 foot, 11 inch and under competition with a 17 lb. king (the only king weighed in) taking first place.
John Batson, first mate and angler on “Tongue & Groove,” landed the tournament’s only king. “Tongue & Groove” was captained by Mark Batson with Tom McGary also on board. Mark led them to Cabbage Patch where John hooked up around 10:00 a.m. using a cigar minnow on top of the water in a slow troll. The team earned $1700, a Shimano TLD-15, and a contour “pool cue.”
Nicholas McClure, a very happy five-year-old and “Little Buddy,” aided by his “Big Buddy” Shannon Gnall, won the tournament’s Junior Angler trophy with a keeper flounder he caught off Oceana Marina’s dock during weigh-in. The Big Mack chose the Family Services’ Big Buddy program as the benefit organization to which all proceeds would be given. Several little and big buddies came out to support the tournament, and a few caught their first fish and enjoyed their first boat ride.
Blair Wagget, also competing in the tourney, commented on the difficulty of fishing on Saturday: “Between the 4 to 5 foot sees, the raging wind, the white wash in your face and coming over the bow, the hurricane last week, and the light rain, it was pretty hard to get out there, much less catch fish.”
Pablo Aycinena said, “We got one hit around 10:00 a.m. at 10 Mile Rock. We were headed for 23 Mile Rock, but the sees were too much. We tried Dallas, (the) Liberty Ship, and John’s Creek, too; we marked fish all day, but none were biting.”
The tournament wasn’t just about fish though; Dane Wagget, who directed the tournament, raised about $1,000 for the Big Buddy program with entry fees and a raffle. The Big Mack gave away door prizes ranging from a Penn 225 rod and Penn Power rod, to free oil changes, T-shirts, Contour casting rods, hammocks, and even a deep fryer/steamer. Dickie’s Tidal Market donated several rods and a reel. Barry at Cape Fear Marine and Tackle donated a Shimano rod/reel combo to go to the closest fish to 22 lbs., East Coast Hammocks donated three new hammocks, Herb Kimrey of Laney Real Estate provided signs, and Tex’s Tackle, Home Depot, Seashore Discount Drugs, D & E Dodge, Greenville Loop Seafood, JenerationZ, and Oceana Marina, as well as several others, provided donations.
Despite the missing fish and foul weather, all in attendance at the 7:30 awards ceremony praised both the layout of the tournament and the invaluable looks of happiness shared by the little buddies.
For more information on the Big Mack King Mackerel Tournament, you can visit www.thebigmack.com. To find out more about the Big Buddy program, please visit www.bigbuddyprogram.com or call (910) 343-8787. See what your time can do for these children; look at the smile on Nicholas’ face.
