Sneads Ferry Fishing Club Tournament 2006
On July 1, New River Marina hosted the annual Snead’s Ferry Fishing Club Tournament. There were 38 boats that competed in this year’s event.
The tournament awards prizes in two divisions: largest king mackerel and largest fish other than a shark.
New River Marina donated 100 gallons of gas for the winner of the king mackerel division and a handheld VHF radio for the largest fish division. These prizes were in addition to 100% payout of entry fees.
Charlie Cone swept both divisions with a monster 47.12 lb. king mackerel. Cone was fishing on his “Three of a Kind,” a 27′ Contender powered by 300 hp Yamaha HPDI engines. The crew consisted of wife, Dale, and Grant Sparks.
The “Three of a Kind” team coaxed their huge king to hit a pogy with a green/sparkle skirt at 9:50 am around the 210 rock. After a 30 minute fight, the team gaffed and boated the fish, which earned them $950 and both the 100 gallons of gas and handheld VHF.
“It was the biggest king I ever caught,” said Sparks, “thanks to some fine boat handling by Dale Cone and gaffing by boat captain Charles Cone and lots of yelling by everyone.”
Walter Giese and John Stuckey caught the 15.8 lb. second place king mackerel. They were fishing on the “Miss Mercy,” Giese’s 23′ Contender powered by 150 hp Yamaha four-strokes. The fish, which earned them $475, bit a naked pogy near 23 Mile Rock.
The second place fish in the “anything but a shark” division was a 20.10 lb. barracuda caught by Samuel Ottoway. Ottoway was fishing aboard the “Blue Heaven,” a 21’ Angler. He also took home $50 donated by Mid East Appraisals for the largest fish caught aboard a single engine boat.
Most boats fishing this event reported steady fishing on small kings and dolphin, but larger fish were were few and far between. The water was fairly dirty until about 20 miles out, but very calm conditions made for a pleasant fishing day.
