Fall Brawl KMT 2004
The Fall Brawl King Classic, looking at an unpleasant weather forecast for Saturday, October 16, changed to a Captain’s choice format for this year’s event, allowing boats to choose either Saturday or Sunday as their one fishing day. There were 19 boats that elected to fish on Saturday, and of that field only four weighed in fish. The rest of the 212 boat field went out Sunday, and it was this second day that produced all of the top 10 finishers.
“Sandpiper,” with Capt. Fred Piper and Dane Piper, won the tournament with a 42.45 lb. king caught off of the Topsail Inlet on a live bluefish. Fred and Dane Piper, from Raleigh, like to fish out of Topsail, and this was their weekend. The Pipers had lost a few baits in the morning, but they were able to catch a bunch of bluefish in the Topsail breakers. The hook-up came at about 10:30 a.m. with approximately 25 boats fishing in the same area. The big king hit the 1.5 lb. bluefish and started running for another boat. The “Sandpiper” crew had to chase the fish a little, but was able to turn the fish within 20 yards of the other boat. Luckily, the neighboring boat happened to be hooked up with a fish at the time, so they had all of their lines out of the water.
The “Sandpiper” crew fish on a 30′ Hydra Sport powered by Evinrude. F. Piper said, “The king came on up and we stuck him.” Fred added that the king was hooked well in the mouth and the top of the head. The first place finishers thanked their sponsors, which include Evinrude Motors, Betts Nets, Rule Pumps, Faria Gauges, Flow Scan, and Lenco Trim Tabs.
Second place went to the man who built the Ocean Isle Fishing Center, Forrest Taylor. Taylor was joined by Don Ewing (your friendly SKA representative), Adam Taylor, and Aaron Evans, and they fished for “That’s My Dog,” a 32′ Donzi. They caught bait Saturday afternoon, so first thing Sunday morning they trolled the Lockwood Folly area for 1.5 hours. Then they headed to the Southport river channel for the morning bite. Their 35.85 lb. king bit on a double pogie that was rigged with a Turbo Rattler (by Skipper’s Pride). Ewing was in by 2:00 p.m. to take photos for SKA, and Adam Taylor won the Junior Angler award.
“Mr. Goodhands” came in third. Capt. Toby Russ, Andy Russ, and Rusty Russ caught a 33.95 lb. king in the river channel on a single pogie. “Prime Time” finished in fourth place with a 32.95 lb. king. Capt. Jamie Milam, Jim Milam, Michael Milam, Mark Bullard, and Chris Lanning were fishing the “Jungle area” with a cigar minnow. In fifth place was “Tailwalker.” Capt. Steward Ballard, Don Mussman, and Frankie Clemmons, the Tailwalker Marine crew, caught a 32.0 lb. king off of Georgetown on a single pogie.
The Lady Angler award went to Judy Brock, fishing on the “Judy Bee.” She caught the 28.25 lb. king while fishing with Phillip Brock at the river channel. Laura Hobbs took second in the Lady Angler.
Austin Eubank finished second in the Junior Angler, but he and Jeff Eubank, on the “Clearly Hooked,” also won the 23 and Under division and finished sixth overall with a 31.25 lb. king.
“Lazy Boy” finished second in the 23 and Under with a 27.7 lb. king caught at the river rocks in the Cape Fear River on a live menhaden.
The rest of the top ten are as follows: 7th was “Ron Jon” and Randy Griffin with a 30.45 lb. king; 8th was “Live Line” and Mike Jackson with a 28.95 lb. king; 9th was “Frayed Knot” and Jeff Smith with a 28.7 lb. king; and 10th was “Oleander Chiropractic” and Chris Branco with a 28.4 lb. king.
For a complete list of all the boats that weighed in, you can visit www.oifishingcenter.com.
