Sneads Ferry KMT 2005
The 14th annual Sneads Ferry Rotary Club KMT, held at new River Marina, allows anglers to fish a full day on Saturday and a shortened day on Sunday. While most of the fish on the leader board came in on Saturday, the biggest king of the weekend came Sunday morning.
The “Carolina Bandit,” with crewmembers Lonnie Jones Jr., Lonnie Jones III, and David Chavis, won the tournament on Sunday, but on Saturday they didn’t weigh a fish. They started on Saturday by running north of Drum Inlet, and then they slowly fished their way back down. By late Saturday, they were at the 30 Minute Rock and marked some things they wanted to come back to on Sunday.
At 8:30 am on Sunday morning, a 48.18 lb. king hit a double pogey up top at 30 Minute Rock. The fish made one really long run, and then it went to the bottom where it didn’t want to leave. Lonnie III said he tried to get the head off the bottom, but the fish wasn’t having it. “It was the strongest king I’ve ever fought,” said Lonnie III.
“Carolina Bandit” is a 35′ Wellcraft with triple 300 Yamahas out of Clayton, NC. The team thanked Furuno Electronics, Solar Bat sunglasses, and Cope’s Marine out of Wilson. Their $25,000 guaranteed purse was sponsored by Power Marine Outfitters, Contender, Yamaha, Magic Tilt Trailers, and Gore’s Marine.
“Number One Contender,” a 31′ Contender out of Ocean Isle Beach, took second place with a 38.50 lb. king. Tim Farmer, Scott Quaintance, and Mark Coley caught the king on Saturday fishing a crowded Yaupon Reef.
The king hit around 3:00, striking a double pogey rig in the prop wash. The team, who was the top finishing SKA boat, was grateful to the GPS Store and Hatteras Embroidery for their support of “Number One Contender.”
Third place went to a local boat. Walter Giese and John Stuckey, fishing on the “Miss Mercy” out of Jacksonville, landed a 38.29 lb. king. Their 23′ Contender found the king Saturday morning at 30 Minute Rock. The king hit a single naked pogey on the long line.
“Rock Steady,” out of Selma, NC, took fourth with a 37.68 lb. king. The crew includes Larry Holloman, Tod Casey, Kevin Lancaster, and Kristie Holloman. They caught the king on Saturday morning at the east side of Cape Lookout shoals near 1700 Rock. The king hit a single pogey down about 30 feet. Kristie Holloman won the SKA Junior Angler Award.
Fifth place was won by Phil Mitchell’s “Triple Trouble,” a 25′ Triton. The Rougemont, NC, crew also included Phillip Mitchell, Brandon Mitchell, and Seth and Ben Sorrell. Their 36.40 lb. king came on Saturday from the east side of Cape Lookout shoals, where they were fishing with no other boats around. Also of note, the team released a sail on Saturday. Phillip Mitchell Jr. (age 13) and Brandon Mitchell (age 9) also took first place in the tournament’s Junior Angler Award.
“Plumb Crazy,” a 23′ Robalo out of Ayden, NC, won the 23 and Under Division with a 30.88 lb. king. Ronnie Hardee, and Mike and James Williams caught the king at 1700 Rock on the east side of the shoals. They were using a ribbonfish 65′ down in 85′ of water.
Margaret Ferebee, on the “Second Catch” out of New Bern, won the Lady Angler with a 29.69 lb. king caught on the east side of Cape Lookout shoals.
The Senior Angler Award went to Jim Davis on the “Right One Baby.” Davis found the king at 30 Minute Rock on Saturday afternoon with a ribbonfish down about 40 feet.
The second place Junior Angler was Cameron Strickland, from Goldsboro, NC, fishing on the “Pound Cake.” The king came Sunday from off of Jerry’s Reef with a pogey on top.
For a complete list of top finishers in the Sneads Ferry KMT, you can visit www.sneadsferrykmt.com.
