The Oak Island Open Pier Tournament was held June 9-11 at Ocean Crest Pier and Yaupon Pier. This was the first year for Yaupon Pier to participate in the event, as they filled the vacant slot opened by the demolition of the Long Beach Pier.
The tournament had three categories: Category One included spot, croaker, whiting, spade, pompano, and pinfish; Category Two included spanish, blue, trout, drum, flounder, and sheepshead; Category Three included king, cobia, jack, amberjack, and tarpon.
The winner of Category One in the Oak Island Open was Tom Puffenbarger. He caught a 1 lb. 5 oz. whiting at 8:29 am on Saturday while fishing from Yaupon Pier.
Second place went to John Hollis. Hollis also landed a 1 lb. 5 oz. whiting, but his was caught about 1:30 hours after Puffenbarger’s whiting. Hollis was fishing from Ocean Crest Pier.
John Stubbs took third place in Category One with a 1 lb. whiting. His fish was caught on Saturday at Yaupon Pier.
The winner of Category Two was Scott Coe. Coe landed a 4 lb. 4 oz. flounder on Saturday. He was fishing from Yaupon Pier.
Donnie Rich took second place. He caught a 3 lb. 6 oz. on Saturday at Yaupon Pier.
Third Place went to Ron Brewer. Brewer caught a 2 lb. 13 oz. sheepshead on Saturday at Yaupon Pier.
There were no fish weighed in Category Three.
There were 144 total entries in this year’s event. The Oak Island Open Pier Tournament is sponsored in part by the Oak Island Parks and Recreation Department, who will use funds from the tournament for youth programs and free kids fishing derbies held throughout the summer.