Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament 2005
The 32nd annual Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament enjoyed a great weekend of fishing, with Friday’s rough seas followed by a good weather day on Saturday. The 47 boats released a number of billfish, including four sails and four whites on Friday, and nine whites, two sails, and two blues on Saturday.
The overall winner of the Billfish points was “Bluewater.” Capt. Andy Morris and Mate Randy Matlack delivered two sail releases on Friday and three white releases on Saturday. “Bluewater” is a 56′ Viking out of Hampton, VA, and was in town as a Blue Water Yacht Sales demo boat.
On Friday, “Bluewater” found the first sail just inshore of the 240 line. They had found bait there and kept working the area. The second sail of the day came inside of the 100 line on the edges of some weedlines.
On Saturday, the “Bluewater” crew went a little farther south. Early in the day they had a blue make three lunges at a teaser, but never got him to eat. The boat went on to release three whites that day, with Sean Doyle landing the first of the day and Randy Matlack bringing in the other two.
Capt. Andy Morris said that he studies the ROFF’s fishing charts the evening before. He likes that they’re very user friendly. He also listened to radio talk on Saturday, and that helped put them on the fish.
“The Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament came out really well,” said Morris. “They did a great job of organizing it. Everybody’s really helpful, and there’s a lot of camaraderie here.”
Morris added, “I know we’ll be back next year.”
Second place in the Billfish points went to John Lancaster’s “Tuna Trappe,” a 50′ Hatteras out of Wilmington. Capt. Brian Smith and Mate Adam Thompson made up for a slow Friday by leading Lancaster to a grand slam on Saturday. They were fishing the 100 line south of the Same Ole and north of the Steeples in 180-200 fathoms of water. This is reportedly the first grand slam in the Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament since the 1970’s.
“Desperado,” a 58′ C and L built by Jim Luxton, took third place in Billfish points, and they also brought in the heaviest dolphin of the weekend. Owner Ken Coffer, Capt. Pete Rae, Mates Richard Wright and Chip G. helped bring in one white on Friday and two whites on Saturday.
Kenneth Coffer Jr. released a white on Friday while fishing northeast of Frying Pan Shoals. Kim Coffer and Kevin Bailey were Saturday’s anglers. “Desperado,” out of Carolina Beach, also brought in the tournament heavy 40.95 lb. dolphin.
The second heaviest dolphin weighed 23.7 lbs. and was landed by Brandon Baxley’s “Sea Mixer,” a 50′ Viking out of Wrightsville Beach. Capt. Jeremy Edwards and Mate Will Tayloe guided angler Alan Norman to the dolphin in the 160’s.
The wahoo division went to “Chainlink,” a 54′ Jarrett Bay out of Morehead City. Ring Leader Georgia Murray recruited a boatload of ladies, and this was their first time fishing in the tournament. Murray’s all-female crew included Annita Best, Jill Frye, Angie Staebler, and Suzanne Huggins.
Annita Best, from Emerald Isle, landed the 68.15 lb. wahoo and Jill Frye gaffed the fish to win the division. Capt. Jay Blount and Mate Greg Uff had “Chainlink” at the 39/140’s in 150 fathoms of water.
“Double Luv,” a 35′ Carolina Classic out of Morehead City, took second in the wahoo division with a 56.0 lb. wahoo. Capt. Steve Chappell and Mate Jordan Hughes put Angler Hal Conjer, of Hooked Up Tackle in Winterville, NC, on the second place fish at the 400 line in 100 fathoms.
There were no tuna weighed in this year.
This year’s sportsmanship prize, the Eddy Haneman Award, went to Chris Bailey.
For more information on the Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament, you can visit www.CapeFearBlueMarlinTournament.com.
