Dixie Chicken Fishing Funament 2004
The 5th Annual Dixie Chicken Funament was held June 25 to 27 at Harbourgate Marina in North Myrtle Beach. This tournament, which pays back 100% of the entry fees in prize money, offers anglers an Offshore Division and an Inshore Division. The proceeds from other aspects of the tournament go to sinking structure on the Jim Caudle Artificial Reef.
In spite of strong winds and bad fishing conditions, there were 32 boats participating in the Inshore Division. Bill Hussey, of North Myrtle Beach won the biggest flounder award with a 4.16 lb. fish. There were two 4.16 lb. flounders brought to the scales, but Patrick Boulter’s fish was weighed in 4 minutes later than Hussey’s.
The largest trout was won by Kenneth Tucker, of Albamarle, fishing on his “Top This.” He weighed in a 4.26 lb. trout that was caught on a live pogey in Lockwood Folly. Tucker also won the 1st place aggregate. His 4.26 lb. trout was combined with a 3.88 lb. flounder for an aggregate total of 8.14 lbs. Vicky Eudy was also on the “Top This,” and she was awarded the Inshore Lady Angler Prize.
Dana Mauldin, of Shallotte, won 2nd place aggregate. His boat, the “Flight Pay,” weighed in a 1.90 lb. flounder and a 3.98 lb. trout. Tommy Rickman, of Southport, took third place in aggregate with a two fish total of 5.46 lbs.
The Offshore Division attracted 12 boats in spite of the rough conditions offshore. There were 15 boats registered to fish offshore, but the tournament (“funament”) is designed to allow boats to change their mind on Friday evening if they decide that it wouldn’t be fun to fish.
Robbie Lazarus, of Myrtle Beach, was the big winner in the offshore division, taking both the first place aggregate and the largest king. His winning king weighed 22.16 lbs. and was caught about 30 miles out, in the area of 300/380, on a ballyhoo with a blue and white Islander. His aggregate total was 30.28 lbs., with a 8.12 lb. dolphin added to his king. Lazarus was fishing on the “Bonnie Anne.”
The largest dolphin of the weekend came from Jimmy Moore, from Monroe, NC. Monroe, fishing on his “Island Girl,” caught a 12.04 lb. dolphin just beyond BP 25. Moore took third place in the aggregate by adding a 7.38 lb. king to his dolphin weight. Missy Carnes, also fishing on the “Island Girl,” won the Offshore Lady Angler.
The 2nd place aggregate in the Offshore Division went to Walter Neal and his boat “Fansea.” Neal, from Rock Hill, SC, had a 10.20 lb. dolphin and a 10.40 king.
The Dixie Chicken had their dinner party Saturday night at Damon’s. The awards ceremony was held Sunday morning at Carraba’s. The tournament has raised enough money to sink 5 barges at the Jim Caudle Artificial Reef in the last 5 years. Jim Caudle, the namesake of the reef, used to fish the North Myrtle Beach area on his boat the “Dixie Chicken.” Many people both running the tournament and participating in the tournament speak of his positive influence in their lives and their approach to fishing.
