Got Em On Classic KMT 2004
The East Coast Got-Em-On Classic King Mackerel Tournament, held this past weekend at the Carolina Beach Municipal Docks, jumped from 167 boats last year to a total of 246 boats this year. The first fish weighed in went to the top of the leader board, and it remained there until the end. The winning fish paid out over $34,000 in prize money.
This year’s big winner was James Guthrie, from Wilmington, NC. Guthrie, fishing on “Early Times,” weighed in a 44.70 lb. king. It was the only king of the tournament to go over 40 pounds. Guthrie was fishing with Dottie Watson, also of Wilmington. They hooked their king about 25 miles off of Carolina Beach on a live menhaden. They brought the fish in early, waiting approximately one hour before the scales opened.
Guthrie used to fish a lot of king tournaments. He was the winner of the Wrightsville Beach King Mackerel Tournament in 1985. Then he quit fishing for kings and picked up bass fishing. This is his second year back at the east Coast Got-Em-On and his third year back in king fishing after about a 10-year hiatus.
Clay Walker, from Wilmington, and the boat “Sea Walker” took second place. Walker’s king weighed 37.55 lbs., and it brought in over $15,000 in prize money. He was fishing with his father and president of the Wrightsville Beach King Mackerel Tournament, Chuck Walker, and Shawn Conrad. They caught their king at “The Jungle.” They were fighting two kings on a double hit when the second place king hit a live bluefish right behind the motor while they were drifting.
Third place went to “Leadfoot III” and Roger Canady, also from Wilmington. Roger was fishing with Joe Canady and Elijah Sorensen. They caught a 36.75 lb. king at Christmas Rock off a live menhaden. The crew also caught a 35 lb. and a 29 lb. king in the same location. Third place paid over $8500.
“Ol Seahorse” took fourth. Jonathan Lane, from Clinton, NC, brought in a 35.05 lb. king. They were followed by Mark Strickland and “Haulin’ Ace” in fifth. Strickland, from Wilmington, caught their king, weighing 34.65 lbs., six miles east of “The Jungle.” Strickland was fishing with Brent Elvington and Pernell Roberts.
The 23′ and Under Division was won by a 1991 23′ Mako. Gary Duncan, on the boat “Reel Pirates II,” caught a 34.30 lb. king at the 30/30 on a live pogey.
The Lady Angler Division went to Holly Sellers, from Bolivia, NC, and the boat “Squeeze Play.” She weighed in a 32.55 lb. king caught at the 65′ Hole on a pogey.
David Kish, from Wilmington, won the Junior Angler Division. Kish, fishing on the “Linda Lee” caught a 33.40 lb. king.
The top USAA angler was Mark Strickland on the “Haulin’ Ace.” The top SKA winner was Clay Walker on “Sea Walker.”
Tournament Director Ty Cobb said that the success of this year’s tournament was related to the good weather forecast, the one-day fishing setup, and the tournament’s improved relationship with SKA and USAA. Cobb said the success was equally a result of “the Got-Em-On Live Bait Club and all their volunteers, and the Carolina and Kure Beach Fire Departments and all their hard work.”
