Frantic Atlantic KMT 2005
The winning king in the 2005 Frantic Atlantic KMT came from 15 miles off Georgetown, SC. “Net Profit,” a 23′ Sea Craft out of Sullivans Island, SC, caught the 37.36 lb. king using a double pogy rig on the top. The “Net Profit” crew included Bryan Baxter (Captain), Matt DeAntonio (angler), and Russ Balderson (gaffer).
The crew landed the big king around 12:00 noon. They had lost two bigger fish earlier in the day. One had straightened out the treble hook, and the other broke the wire.
Balderson said, “It was a total team effort.” He added that they had an easy time getting bait in the morning off Georgetown Beach, but their boat was causing problems all day. However, they kept working, and the 37.36 lb. king brought them in over $12,000 in prize money.
Second place went to “Yard Boy” with a 35.68 lb. king. Capt. John Walpole, out of Wadmalaw Island, SC, took home over $6000 for his second place fish.
Third place went to “Obsessed.” Capt. Jeff Cunningham, from Wilmington, NC, brought in a 28.90 lb. king. Also onboard “Obsessed” was Trask Cunningham, who took this year’s Junior Angler Award.
“Juggernaut,” a Yamaha-powered 31′ Contender out of Beaufort, SC, came in fourth place with a 27.02 lb. king. The crew included Capt. Bert Harvey, David Morris, and Jim Roberts. Roberts was the angler, and he hooked the fish at the Georgetown tideline at 2:30. The king hit a single pogy on the flat top line, and Morris gaffed the king at about 3:00.
The winner of the 23 and Under Division was one of only three boats to catch a king in the 30 lb. class. “Knot at Work,” a 23′ Sailfish, caught the 31.70 lb. king in 50′ of water off of Charleston. Capt. Robert Olsen, Bob Olynick, and Jerry Tumbleston, all from Charleston, caught the king with a menhaden double rigged and on the downrigger.
The Lady Angler went to Carlette Stewart, from Georgetown, SC. She caught a 25.76 lb. king on the “Black Cat.”
“This is the final year of the Frantic Atlantic King Mackerel Tournament,” was the announcement at the beginning of Saturday night’s awards ceremony by Tournament Director Larry Fowler. One of the reasons that was given for the decision was the large and growing number of king mackerel tournaments in the area.
Fowler thanked all the fishermen who have fished the Frantic Atlantic through the years.
He also wanted to especially thank Hydra Sports and the SKA, who have both been with him from the tournament’s first year and all of the volunteers who have helped make the event possible.
The Frantic Atlantic KMT has been a fundraiser for the North Myrtle Beach Primary School for Exceptional Children.
