Calcutta Wahoo Challenge 2006
The first leg of the 2006 Calcutta Wahoo Challenge had to battle a little weather and high seas, but the 50-boat tournament still managed to weigh in some nice fish and raise money for their beneficiaries, the Take A Kid Fishing Foundation and the Hospice of Carteret County.
The Wahoo Challenge was held April 20-22 in Morehead City. Fishing conditions on Friday were 10-15 knot winds and 2-3 feet seas. Boats reported the conditions were very fish-able, but the fish weren’t as plentiful in the area as they had been a week or two earlier. Saturday’s conditions deteriorated. A Small Craft Advisory was posted at 11:00 am, with 6-9 feet seas sustained and many larger swells moving through.
The winner of the largest wahoo went to “Frequent Flyer,” a 54’ Jarrett Bay owned by Gary Joyner of Greenville. Capt. Glen Loftin and Mate Alan Willis led angler Mike Kohler to the 51.35 lb. wahoo on Friday.
The wahoo strike came at the Big Rock in 40 fathoms a little after 12:00 noon. It hit a trolled ballyhoo with a Hawaiian Eye. The-54 pounder was one of three wahoo caught that day by “Frequent Flyer.”
Capt. Loftin noted that the fishing over the weekend was a little slow. Area boats had been catching 60-70 pound wahoo two weeks before.
“It was a good tournament,” said Loftin. “The tournament was well run and a lot of fun.”
The two-day aggregate went to “Sensation” for a two-fish total of 80.10 lbs. James Stallings caught a 43.50 lb. wahoo on Friday, and Peter Barbier landed a 36.60 lb. wahoo on Saturday.
Capt. Dale Britt and Mate Chris Russell had the “Sensation,” a 52’ Jarrett Bay, in the vicinity of the Big Rock each day. Both wahoo hit a trolled ballyhoo with a Hawaiian Eye.
The overall second place went to a 47.70 lb. wahoo brought in by Capt. Gray Hall and Mate Travis Cook on the “Blue Water.” Eric Lugo, from Raleigh, was the angler. The wahoo came on Friday at around 1:00. They had an eight line spread out, and the fish hit the planer rod with a rigged ballyhoo down about 30 feet. They were 10 miles south of the Big Rock. The “Blue Water” is a 54’ Buddy Harris.
Michael Biggerstaff, of Greenville, caught a 45.10 lb. wahoo to take the third heaviest wahoo prize. He was fishing with Capt. Joe Elbeery and Mate Eric Lindbeck on the “Flying Fish,” a 40’ Ocean Yacht. They were north of the Big Rock a little after 12:00 noon on Friday when the wahoo hit a ballyhoo with a blue and white seawitch.
The overall fifth place wahoo came from Ricky Liles fishing with Capt. Pizza Cannon on the “Waste Knot.” Their wahoo weighed 42.65 lbs.
First place in Junior Angler went to DJ Rauland. He caught a 38.60 lb. wahoo fishing with Capt. Tom Comerford on the “Legal Ease.”
“Sea Striker” and Capt. Adrian Holler had both the second place Junior Angler and the Lady Angler winner. Second place in Junior Angler went to Ryan Small for a 26.00 lb. wahoo. Laura Downey was the tournament’s Lady Angler champ with a 38.75 lb. wahoo.
Tournament Director Elizabeth Dixon wanted to thank all of their sponsors, especially Calcutta, Randy Bryant Builders, and Wachovia. Last year the Calcutta Wahoo Challenge donated nearly $70,000 to their beneficiaries, and this year they are hoping to donate over $100,000. She also pointed out that this is a new tournament and they look forward to growing in the future.
The second leg of the Calcutta Wahoo Challenge will be held October 19-21 at the Morehead City waterfront. For more information, you can visit www.calcuttawahoo.com.
