Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament 2006
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Wrightsville Beach Marina hosted the 33rd annual Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament on July 6-9, 2006.
The tournament is part of the North Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfish Tournament and is run in accordance with their billfish points format. Boats can accumulate points both by releasing billfish or weighing in a blue marlin over 400 pounds. White marlin and Sailfish releases are worth 150 points each, and a blue marlin release brings 300 points.
No marlin were brought to the scales in this year’s event, but seven blue marlin, four white marlin, and five sailfish were released by boats fishing the event.
The Morehead City-based 61′ Jarrett Bay “Sea Striker” captured first place. Capt. Adrian Holler and Mate Vince Johnston found one blue marlin and two white marlins for angler Tommy Herring to end up on top of the 37 boat field. Their releases earned the team 600 points. The big win was worth a check for $59,940.
“Eye Catcher,” a 61′ Garlington from Wrightsville Beach, found three sailfish on Friday to finish second in billfish release points. Their 450 points had Capt. Burrow Smith, Mate Roy Hales, and angler Bill Aldridge on top of the leader board after day one, but they could not manage a release on Saturday to maintain their lead. The second place payout in billfish points gathered $29,907 for the local team.
Third place in billfish points went to the Atlantic Beach 57′ Custom Carolina “Live Wire.” They were one of seven boats to release a single blue marlin. The blue marlin they released on Friday was the first blue reported to the tournament committee, breaking the 300 point third-place tie. Capt. Junior Johnson, Mate Pete Zook, and angler Bob Ashley earned a check for $9,950.
The Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament also features an optional meat fish category paying two places each for the heaviest dolphin, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo.
In the wahoo division, Kirkley Russell, aboard the “Russellhat,” weighed a 39.50 lb. fish to take home a $5100 check. The Carolina Beach, NC, boat “Desperado” brought home the second place check for $3400 with a 34.95 lb. wahoo.
Carla Davis, fishing aboard the “Two High” out of Wilmington, NC, caught the first place dolphin of 31.5 lbs., receiving a check for $5100. The “Horse” had the second place dolphin, weighing 24.00 lbs. It was worth $3400.
No yellowfin tuna were caught during the tournament.
Snotty weather kept some of the boats in dock on Friday, the first day of the event. Sea conditions were a little better on Saturday.
The Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament expresses gratitude to Sam Clary, weighmasters George Lott and Randy Gregory, Wrightsville Beach Marina (for hosting the event), and the tournament’s many sponsors.
