Capt. Eddy Haneman Sailfish Tournament 2004
The 5th Annual Captain Eddy Haneman Sailfish Tournament was held July 15-17 at the Bridge Tender Marina with a total of 42 boats participating in this year’s event. While there was a two-day total of 6 sailfish releases, tournament participants raised large numbers of sails. There were ideal fishing conditions for this tournament, a tournament that raises thousands of dollars every year for local charities.
The tournament was won late Saturday afternoon by the “Captain Kook,” a 23′ Sea Craft from Morehead. Capt. Hunter Blount and Angler Gray Blount, both from Greenville, had a double sail hookup on the second (and last) fishing day approximately two hours before quitting time. They were fishing plain ballyhoos with circle hooks in 100′ of water about 2 miles south of WR4. By successfully releasing the two sails, they won the overall, the last sail of the tournament, and the fifth sail of the tournament. The two sails proved to be worth over $9,000 in prize money for “Captain Kook.”
The first sail of the day on Friday went to the “Sea Mixer,” a 50′ Viking. Capt. Jeremy Edwards and Angler Brandon Baxley, both of Wilmington, caught and released their sail a little south of Dallas Rock. The sail bit on a pink and blue sea witch. Friday’s first sail paid out $750.
The first sail of the day on Saturday came from the “Musicman,” a 41′ Key West #1 that charters out of Carolina Beach. Capt. Dave Marshall and Angler Kevin Blake, both from Carolina Beach, found the sail by trolling a skirted ballyhoo in 60′ of water offshore of Dallas Rock. Saturday’s first sail also paid out $750.
Two other boats released sails but didn’t qualify for any prize money. The “Back-N-Down” and Capt. Brian Hutchinson released a sail a little south of the Lenon Hyde Wreck. Capt. Ted Davis and the “All Buoys” released a sail near the fairway on the shoals of Frying Pan.
The Eddy Haneman Sailfish Tournament also paid out for the top two heaviest dolphin. “Triple Play,” a 21′ Regulator, took first place. Capt. Les Edwards and Angler Ray Watkins, both from Wilmington, caught a 14.72 lb. dolphin about 25 miles off of Wrightsville Beach. The payout for the heaviest dolphin was $2,895. Second place went to the “Jimmy Crab,” a 33′ Sportfish Bertram. The 13.07 lb. dolphin was caught by Capt. Jim Hobbs and Angler Bob Holland, and it paid $750 in prize money.
Kit Taylor, one of the tournament directors, commented, “There were a tremendous amount of sails seen, hooked, missed, and caught.” Lee Parsons, another tournament director, added, “Just about everybody had a couple of shots at a sail over the weekend.”
The awards ceremony, sponsored by the John Boy and Billy Show, enjoyed a short, heart-warming address by the wife of the late Eddy Haneman. The tournament awarded John Horton, of the “Trophy,” with the Capt. Eddy Haneman Sailfish Tournament Sportsman Award.
This year’s charitable beneficiaries are the lower Cape Fear Hospice, the Foundation for the Education of Children with Down Syndrome, and the Boys and Girls Home of Lake Waccamaw.
