Atlantic Beach KMT 2005
In spite of the inclement weather, the Atlantic Beach King Mackerel Tournament attracted 340 boats to fish the two-day event. The weather, however, had a greater affect on the fishing than the participation.
In the two days of 300+ boats fishing, there were less than 50 kings weighed in. Friday, with 6-8 foot seas, saw 38 kings brought in, including the top three fish. Saturday, with 8-10 and some 12 foot seas mixed in, produced only 11 kings.
The winning fish was a whopping 55.8 lb. king. “Moye Toye,” and Capt. Ben Moye out of Pine Level, NC, caught the king that paid out almost $45,000 in prize money. Moye was fishing with Joe Starling, Robbie Evans, and Chris Wilkins, and they caught the king on the East side. Robbie Evans was the angler, and Chris Wilkins was the gaff man. “Moye Toye” is a 22-foot Sea Hunt.
“Miss Kayley,” captained by Frank Eastman out of Morehead City, came in second place with a 38.25 lb. king.
Third place went to “Stillwater.” Jason Harlin and Ramsey Skinner caught the 36.5 lb. king at the 1700 Rock east of Cape Lookout.
“Liquid Fire,” out of Cape Carteret, took the overall fourth place. Mark, Charles, Joshua, and Crocket Henderson, along with Chris Waters, caught the king at the Cape Lookout rock wall. The king hit a naked menhaden on the flat line. It was the only king caught on Saturday that made the top 5. Joshua Henderson (age 15) was also the tournament’s top junior angler.
Fifth place overall went to Dieter Caldwell on the “Tide Line.” Caldwell, out of Oak Island, landed a 32.4 lb. king.
Greg Dennis, on “The Reel Outdoors” out of Emerald Isle, took top honors in the 23 and Under Division with a 33 lb. king. Ricky Ambram was the angler, and they caught the fish at the Dead Tree Hole on a ribbonfish.
Second place in the 23 and Under went to Danny Lassiter, out of Four Oaks, NC, on the “Runnin Wild” with a 25.10 lb. king.
The sixth through tenth place finishers are as follows: Jeff Morris, out of Wilmington, on the “Sharon Leigh” in sixth with a 29.95 lb. king; Brian Phillips, out of Hillsborough, on the “Frequent Flyer” in seventh with a 29.50 lb. king; Jamie Swart, out of Greenville, on the “Fish’N’Fowl” in eighth with a 27.70 lb. king; Ronald Sanders, out of Nashville, on the “King Krazy” in ninth with a 26.85 lb. king; and Chris Burleson, out of Newport, on the “Southport 1” in tenth with a 26.10 lb. king.
The winner of the Carteret County Sportfishing Association prize went to Bill Williamson, out of Wilson, fishing on the “Fishn Warrior.” He landed a 21.90 lb. king.
The winner of the Raleigh Salt Water Sportfishing Club prize went to “Madness” and Mark Deans out of Raleigh, NC. Deans landed a 25.40 lb. king.
For more information on the ABKMT, you can visit www.abkmt.com.
