Johnnie Mercer’s Pier Dogfish Tournament
Jeffrey McLaughlin with the winning 12 lb. Spiny Dogfish in the 5th Annual Johnnie Mercer's Pier Dogfish Tournament. The big spinedog bit a chunk of bluefish on the bottom.
For most saltwater anglers in the region, winter is a time to sit back, reflect on the season past, and prepare for the one upcoming. Sure, there are stripers biting off the Outer Banks, wahoo in the Gulf Stream, and maybe a bluefin tuna if you’re a gambling type with a lot of time and money on your hands, but the average angler is spending more time on the couch than the water in January and February.
On January 30, however, 66 hearty souls defeated the elements and cabin fever to compete in the fifth running of the Johnnie Mercer’s Pier Dogfish Tournament.
The elements made sure to test anglers, too, as the wind flirted with 40 mph and rain turned to sleet as night fell over the course of the 2:00-8:00 pm event.
The unfavorable conditions didn’t seem to matter to the dogfish, small sharks prevalent in the nearshore waters over winter, as a pair of dogs that eclipsed the tournament record hit the pier deck over the course of the event. In addition, there were a total of 66 fish landed by the participants.
Justin Trujillo with the 10 lb., 13 oz. dogfish that earned him second place in the Johnnie Mercer's Dogfish Tournament. A chunk of cut mullet fooled the fish.
Angler Jeff McLaughlin took home the top prize in the event, a 2010 season pass to the pier, and he set a new pier record with a 12 lb., 0 oz. spiny dogfish landed on a slab of cut bluefish.
Holding the lead and the record for a short time during the tournament was Justin Trujillo, who caught a 10 lb., 13 oz. dog he landed on cut mullet. Trujillo also landed 16 dogfish, more than any other angler in the tournament, and his big fish held up for second place overall.
Matt McKinley captured a 9 lb., 6 oz. doggie to take home third.
All 66 fish caught during the event were released after they were measured and weighed.
The Mercer’s Dogfish Tournament was started five years ago by a group of pier regulars that were bored of waiting for spring and decided to host an event for smooth and spiny dogfish, the only consistently available species from the pier over the winter.Â
Though the first year’s turnout was meager, the event has grown rapidly in terms of sponsors and participation, and they would likely have had even more entrants had snow not blanketed much of the state that weekend, keeping many at home. As it was, the 66 anglers who showed up traveled from as far away as Pennsylvania and Ohio to fish.
The North Carolina Fishing Pier Society hosted the Dogfish Tournament along with the pier, as they have for the past two years, and thanks go out to sponsors NC Public Access Foundation, Tex’s Tackle, Sumo Express, pier owner Matt Johnson, and Guy Harvey Sportswear for providing the prizes.
