Barta Boys and Girls Club Billfish Tournament 2006
The Barta Boys and Girls Club Billfish Tournament is a competitive event (they’re part of the Governor’s Cup) with a strong emphasis on junior anglers. They delivered strong in both categories this year.
The Barta produced a weekend total of 125 billfish releases, but what’s more impressive is who caught the blues, whites, and sails. Tred Barta, the host of the event, announced at the awards that 82% of the billfish were released by junior anglers.
He was also proud to announce that the tournament raised $100,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Coastal Carolina.
The tournament’s overall leader in billfish release points was “Frequent Flyer.” Capt. Glynn Loftin and Mate Alan Willis led their crew to a two-day total of 12 billfish releases (the Barta is an all billfish release event).
The top angler on board was J.D. Carter (age 13) of Pawley’s Island, SC. He was responsible for 6 of the boat’s 12 releases. The six releases earned him the top spot in the Junior Angler Billfish Division.
Also on board were Martin Jones, Chris May, Michael Moseh, and Sonny Clark. The crew had an exciting weekend, with 4 of the 5 anglers landing their very first billfish during the event.
On Friday “Frequent Flyer” had 1 blue, 3 sails, and 2 whites. They were just north of the Big Rock, and the action came throughout the day.
On Saturday they were just south of the Big Rock, and all the action came in the first hour and the last hour.
And it was in the final 15 minutes that “Frequent Flyer” won the tournament. They were tied in billfish points with only 15 minutes left to fish when they had a white miss a short bait. Mate Alan Willis continued to feed back the bait until the white finally ate. That was the fish that broke the tie and gave them first place.
Second place went to “Job Site,” an all family crew out of Greenville, NC. Bill Farrior Jr., Bill Farrior Sr., and David Chappell were joined by Wendy Farrior, Cori and Matthew Chappell, and Ben Chappell.
“Job Site” had three whites and three sails on Friday (fishing north of the Big Rock) and three whites and two sails on Saturday (fishing south of the Big Rock).
All five releases on Saturday came in the last 45 minutes. They didn’t have their first release of the day until 1:16 pm. “It was a busy 45 minutes,” said David Chappell.
“Job Site” is a 55’ Viking captained by Gray Blount.
Third place went to “Deacon Blues” out of Morehead City. Tom and Joyce Comerford were crewed by Capt. Jay Blount and Mate Winslow Taylor.
They had 2 blues, a white, and a sail on Friday (going 4 for 6). And then on Saturday they raised about 20 billfish, coaxing 2 whites and 4 sails to eat.
Blount commented, “I’ve fished many spots all over the world, and today’s fishing off of Morehead rivaled anything I’ve ever seen.”
Tom Comerford won the Senior Angler award, and Joyce Comerford won the Lady Angler award.
Jake Blackley (age 9), from Cary and fishing this weekend on the “About Time,” brought in the heaviest Junior Angler Wahoo and Junior Angler Combined Weight prize (total of one fish from the four categories of tuna, dolphin, wahoo, and king).
His wahoo weighed 44.68 lbs., and his combined weight was 55.62 lbs.
When asked about his successful weekend, Jake impressively echoed one of Tred Barta’s themes for this event, “It was a team effort.”
Steven Matthews is the owner of “About Time,” a 42’ Buddy Harris out of Raleigh. The boat is crewed by Capt. Johnny Rose and Mate Matthew Baker.
The tournament’s heaviest dolphin came from “Will Power,” a 50’ Spencer out of Greensboro. Russell Farlow’s 57.5 lb. winning dolphin also helped the boat earn the overall combined weight prize. They were fishing out of Hatteras working from the 880 to the 850 line.
The “Will Power” is captained by Will Cathey with Mate Will Cimino.
Jacqueline Norris had the heaviest dolphin weighed in by a junior angler. Her 36.88 lb. dolphin came while fishing on the “Delta Dawn” with Capt. Pete Manuel.
If you would like more information and a complete list of top finishers in the Barta Billfish Tournament, then you can visit www.bartaboysandgirlsclubbillfish.com.
