Gregory Poole Strike It Rich 2006
On Saturday, September 16, there were 75 boats that departed NC inlets with one thing in mind–Striking It Rich. Only one boat would achieve this goal and win the first annual Gregory Poole Marine Power Strike It Rich King Mackerel Tournament, a winner take event to benefit the United Way of Coastal Carolina.
Unlike other SKA-sanctioned KMTs that pay out over 20 places in several categories, in the Strike It Rich all $50,000 in prize money goes to the one team with the heaviest king. That team was “Southern Bale.”
It took a 36.8 lb. king mackerel to bring home the big check for the “Southern Bale” crew, out of Walstonburg, NC. Teammates Mark and Vernon Jones and Mike and Mitch Gay brought the big kingfish to the weigh-in at the Beaufort waterfront aboard their 25′ Contender powered by 250 hp Yamaha OX66 motors. Regular team captain Matt Gay had previous obligations and was unable to fish this tournament, so Mark Jones was running the boat this Saturday.
The “Southern Bale” team began fishing Saturday morning at 30 Minute Rock off Drum Inlet. The first two hours of fishing only produced a 5 lb. spanish mackerel. Then they heard on the radio of some big fish at the 1700 Rock. They were uncertain of whether to believe the report, but they weren’t catching much either so they pointed the Contender towards the 1700 Rock and punched the throttles.
Arriving at the Rock, the crew quickly boated a 32 lb. king, confirming the presence of big fish in the area. Soon after the first king hit, they caught a 15 inch peanut dolphin. Deciding to incorporate the little dolphin into the their spread, Mark Jones began free-spooling it behind the boat at around 10:20 am.
The dolphin didn’t make it out of the prop wash before a big fish annihilated it. After the bite, the fish swam rapidly under the lines of “Team Furuno,” a neighboring boat. “Southern Bale” hailed the boat on the radio and advised them of the situation.
“They were very generous,” Mike Gay said appreciatively. “Team Furuno” cut off their lines and pulled the downrigger up to assist the “Southern Bale” boat.
The “Southern Bale” big king then took off on a tremendous run. “I told everybody it was either a wahoo or a big sow king,” Mark Jones said. The big run tired the fish. And despite the crowd of boats in the area, the crew was close to it after around 15 minutes. As soon as the king was in range, Vernon Jones sank a gaff in it and brought it aboard.
With a winner take all format, they knew that they needed to have not just a big fish, but the biggest fish to get a check. They continued fishing until 1:30 without catching a larger king. Then the crew decided to head for Beaufort in time for the start of the weigh-in at 3:00.
Crossing the shoals, the “Southern Bale” met up with the “Bear Cat” team, who also had a big king onboard. Not certain whose fish was larger, the two boats ran back to Beaufort together. At the scales, the “Southern Bale” fish proved heaviest by approximately 1.5 lbs. “Bear Cat” took second place (but no prize money) with a 35.0 lb. king.
The peanut dolphin that the “Southern Bale” king struck was still in its stomach when it was cut open at the weigh-in. With such a small difference in weight between first and second place, the little dolphin may well have put the “Southern Bale” king on top.
The “Southern Bale” team wished to thank sponsor Mike Gay Farms for supporting them and making fishing this event possible.
The landlocked town of Walstonburg is beginning to seem like the king mackerel capital of NC. The 36.8 lb. king that won the “Southern Bale” $50,000 also put the team in the lead of the Open Class of SKA Division 2.
And friends and Walstonburg neighbors aboard the “Miss Teny” are now leading the Class of 23′ and Under in Division 2.
“The Miss Teny got us started way back in the day,” Mike Gay said about king mackerel fishing. Both teams are excited about ending the Division 2 race at the Drum Inlet King Mackerel Tournament October 6-8.
The Gregory Poole Strike it Rich King Mackerel Tournament benefits the United Way of Coastal Carolina. This organization funds a variety of charitable causes in Carteret, Craven, Jones, and Pamlico counties. Some of their current projects include assisting the elderly with medications, helping adults learn to read, computer and job training for single mothers, and providing safety for domestic violence victims.
When asked why the United Way of Coastal Carolina was chosen as the tournament’s beneficiary, Gregory Poole Marine Division GM Dan Webb replied, “They support such a wide variety of charities. The United Way is like a clearinghouse for all the charitable organizations in the area.”
Webb also spoke of his hopes to get other local marine businesses on board to help support the United Way. “The real deal is getting some money out of this marine industry to fund local people in need,” he said.
United Way of Coastal Carolina Executive Director Sandra Phelps was very excited about the tournament. “I can’t say enough about the Gregory Poole folks,” she said. “We are already planning for next year.”
In addition to the king mackerel event, plans are in the works for a 2007 blue water tournament series benefiting the United Way.
Phelps wished to express gratitude to all the volunteers who helped out during the tournament and the anglers who entered the event. “We can’t do it without them,” she said.
For more information, you can visit www.strikeitrichfish.com.
