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Added on Wednesday, October 8, 2014

The winners of the Topsail Island Fall Surf Fishing Challenge with their prize money and plaques following the end of the 36-hour fishing marathon headquartered at Surf City’s East Coast Sports.

The winners of the Topsail Island Fall Surf Fishing Challenge with their prize money and plaques following the end of the 36-hour fishing marathon headquartered at Surf City’s East Coast Sports.

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Capt. Tim Barefoot (left), of Barefoot Fishing, and Gary Hurley, of Fisherman's Post Newspaper, with a bonito caught on a ballyhoo rigged with Barefoot Fishing's new Chin Weight. They were fishing 80' of water about 20 miles out of Masonboro Inlet.

Nick Maraveyias with an est. 90 lb. wahoo he hooked on a chunk of spanish sardine while jigging near the Same Ol' Hole in late February. He landed the 'hoo on 20 lb. spinning tackle with a monofilament leader while fishing with Nick Patsalos and Capts. Pete Stafford and Steve Meching on the "Slip Slidin."

Clarence Whitley, of Greenville, NC, with his first red drum, hooked on a Betts Halo Shad near Bald Head Island while he was fishing with Scott Hampton.

Jenna Raymond with a 21" red drum she hooked in a creek off the lower Cape Fear River.

Taylor, from Wilmington, with a slot red drum that bit a mudm minnow on a Carolina rig in a lower Cape Fear River marsh. She was fishing with Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer Charters.

Warren Knowles, of Wilmington, with a red drum that bit a white soft plastic bait near Bald Head Island.

Tim Rudder, of Chasin' Tails Outdoors, with a 4 lb. speckled trout he caught and released in a Bogue Sound creek while casting a live mud minnow.

Tonya Batten, of Morehead City, with an upper-slot red drum that she landed in a Morehead-area creek after it struck a mud minnow under a float rig. Photo courtesy of Chasin' Tails Outdoors.

Jennifer and Mike, from Oregon, with a red drum they hooked near a Carteret County dock while fishing with Capt. Chris Kimrey of Mount Maker Charters.

Stacy Strickland, from Goldsboro, NC, with a striped bass he hooked on a D.O.A. CAL jerkbait. He was fishing the Neuse River near New Bern with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.

Mark Wilder, of Greenville, NC, with a striped bass that bit a Z-Man PaddlerZ soft bait in the lower Roanoke River.

Laine Dickson with a red drum that bit a live mud minnow in the ICW near Little River while she was fishing with her husband, Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters.

Betty Wright, of TW's Tackle, with a puppy drum she hooked on cut shrimp near Oregon Inlet while fishing with her daughter and son-in-law.

Logan Futch with a double header of puppy drum he hooked near Cape Point. Photo courtesy of TW's Tackle.

Kevin Eller and a 96", 308 lb. dressed weight bluefin tuna that attacked a skirted ballyhoo off Oregon Inlet while he was trolling with Capt. Lee Collins on the "Strike 'Em" out of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.

Brayden (age 4) and Capt. Brant McMullan, of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center, with a 35 lb. golden tilefish they hooked while bottom fishing 90 miles off Ocean Isle Beach.

Lee Koch with a 25" red drum that strucka live mud minnow on a float rig near Ocean Isle Beach while he was fishing with Capt. Jacob Firck of J&J Inshore Charters.

Jon Morton and Capt. Robbie Hall, of Team Reel Outdoors, with the 12.30 pair of red drum that earned them victory in the Riley Rods Spring Redfish Shootout, including the 6.56 lb. fish that also topped the Single Big Fish TWT.

Jason Shannon with a pair of black drum that struck live shrimp near Southport.

Luke Tierney (age 2) and his grandfather James Demyan with Luke's first fish, a speckled trout he caught and released after it bit a mud minnow in the backwaters near Oak Island.

Frank Pope, of Jacksonville, NC, with an upper-slot red drum that he hooked while sight-casting a Zoom Fluke soft plastic. He was fishing a bay near Swansboro with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.

Tim Chavez with one of the red drum he and Capt. Allen Jernigan--Team White Latinos--landed on the way to their 11.94 lb. two-fish aggregate and second place finish in the Riley Rods Spring Redfish Shootout.

Benny Trujillo, of Houston, TX, and Rey Cirino, of Ft. Bragg, NC, with a pair of red drum they hooked in some shallow water off the New River while fishing with Capt. Allen Jernigan of Breadman Ventures. The reds fell for TTF Killer Falts Minnow soft plastics scented with Pro-Cure.

Richard Walton with a 25" red drum he hooked on a piece of shrimp pinned to a jighead while fishing a Sneads Ferry creek.

Capt. Trevor Smith, of ProFishNC Charters, with a sheepshead he hooked at some nearshore structure off Wrightsville Beach.

Buddy Ester and Carla Auman with the results of a double topwater hookup, 31 and 33" striped bass they hooked in the Cape Fear River while fishing with Duane Auman. The fish were released after the photo.

Anthony Pearson with a red drum that fell for a Zoom soft plastic near Swansboro while he was fishing with Capt. Stukie Payne of Carolina Backwater Charters.

Cousin-In-Law Matt Worth (center), flanked by Uncle-In-Law Marty Worth and Brother-In-Law J.J. Khoury, with a (very) modest striper caught on a shore line using a bright yellow Saltwater Assassin swim bait.

Bill Lamb with a 33" red drum that struck mullet near Wrightsville Beach while he was fishing with Butch Davis.

Michael Bradley, of Wilmington, with a hogfish that bit a Blue Water Candy Roscoe jig near in 170' of water near the Nipple.

Brent Hinson, of Wilmington, with a 24" puppy drum that bit a Carolina-rigged mud minnow in the surf at Wrightsville Beach.

Keith Harabin, of Winnabow, NC, with a tautog that bit a shrimp-tipped Roscoe jig at the Liberty Ship off Wrightsville Beach.

Kelly Goforth, of Concord, NC, with a 26" red drum that bit a chunk of mullet in the Fort Fisher surf.

Gene Walker, of Dunn, NC, with a 114 lb. amberjack that he hooked while fishing along the break off Carolina Beach with Capt. David Marshall of Musicman Charters. Weighed in at Island Tackle and Hardware.

Anthony Massa, from CO, with a slot red drum that fell for a shrimp fly in a creek near Bald Head Island while he was fishing with Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer Charters.

Tommy Dale, of Horseheads, NY, with a 19" red drum that bit cut shrimp off Kure Beach Pier.

Cale, Todd, Michael, and Bryson Alligood, and Mac Cress, of Salisbury, NC, with some of the puppy drum and other fish they hooked on fresh shrimp while fishing the Cape Lookout surf.

Heather Shaw, of Hatteras Island, with a 49" red drum she caught and released in the surf at Cape Point after it fell for a chunk of menhaden.

Joe Marr with a citation red drum that bit a cut bait in the surf at Cape Point. Photo courtesy of Tightline Charters.

Madison Beaver with her first puppy drum. The pup fell for a Gulp bait beneath a popping cork while she was kayak fishing the Pamlico Sound with her stepfather, Rob Alderman of Outer Banks Kayak Fishing.

Tim Norris, of Raleigh, NC, with a puppy drum that bit a cut bait in the Ocracoke surf. Photo courtesy of Tradewinds Tackle.

Stephen Woodland and Brie Wheaton with a pair of fat black sea bass they hooked on squid while bottom fishing in 120' of water off Beaufort Inlet. Photo courtesy of Chasin' Tails Outdoors.

Dickie and David Maynor, of Selma and Coats, NC, with a black drum and a pair of slot red drum they hooked on shrimp while fishing the Atlantic Beach surf.

Capt. Gary Dubiel, of Spec Fever Guide Service, with a healthy speckled trout he hooked on a weedless D.O.A. soft plastic in a creek off the lower Neuse River.

Capt. Dave Stewart, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, with a striped bass that bit a Unfair Lures topwater in the Neuse River near New Bern.

Roy and Alex Itch, of Waxhaw, NC, with a red drum that bit a live mud minnow on a Mission Fishin' jighead while they were fishing a shallow creek near Little River with Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters.

Tim Lens, of Boston, and David Duppstadt, of Little River, SC, with a pair of red drum they hooked near Tubbs Inlet while fishing with Capt. Patrick Kelly of Capt. Smiley's Fishing Charters.

Zach Diamond, of Kill Devil Hills, NC, with a slot red drum that he hooked while fishing Oregon Inlet with Rachel Marshall. Photo courtesy of TW's Tackle.

Isaiah Miller and Jake Frick with a pair of red drum that bit blue crab chunks near Ocean Isle Beach while they were fishing with Capt. Jacob Frick of J&J Inshore Charters.

Cooper Ellis, of Columbus, OH, with a red drum that bit a live bait near Oak Island while he was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.

Kathie Brown, of Oak Island, with a 3 lb. black drum she hooked while bottom fishing from Ocean Crest Pier.

Nesbit Noble with a blackfin tuna that bit a cigar minnow near Frying Pan Tower while he was fishing with Capt. Kevin Sneed of Rigged and Ready Charters.

Tommy Scheetz with a 51 lb. wahoo that struck a skirted ballyhoo in the Gulf Stream off Southport while he was fishing with Capt. Wally Trayah of Oak Island Fishing Charters.

Carrie Lucht with her first red drum, a 20" fish that bit a D.O.A. paddletail soft plastic while she was fishing in Queens Creek with Marcus Denning.

James Wetter, of Kannapolis, NC, with a 25" red drum he hooked on a weedless Zoom Fluke soft plastic while fishing a bay behind Bear Island with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.

Dale Smith, of Swansboro, with a 27" red drum that bit a white Gulp shrimp near Bear Inlet while he was fishing with Capt. Chris Sewell of Fishead Charter.

Tim and Don Hagerich with a 55 lb. snowy grouper that bit a vertical jig in 750' of water off Hatteras Inlet while they were fishing with Capt. Andy Piland on the "Goodtimes."

Capt. Rennie Clark, of Tournament Trail Charters, with a 47" red drum he caught and released after it struck a Shore Lure off the mouth of the Cape Fear River.

Capt. Robert and Cooter Schoonmaker with an estimated 70 lb. black drum that bit a Stingsilver just off Carolina Beach while they were fishing with their father, Capt. Charlie Schoonmaker of Back Bay Fishing Charters.

Frank Johnson, Capt. Brody Heath, and the crew of the "Emma Rose" earned first place in the 2014 Far Out Shootout by pairing this 28.5 lb. dolphin with a 39.1 lb wahoo for a 67.6 lb. aggregate. Their fish bit ballyhoo paired with glass head trolling lures near the Blackjack Hole.

Robert and Alex Pink and Gary Hall, of Wilmington, with an 80 lb. cobia, one of many they hooked while sight-casting to fish off Hatteras Inlet with Capt. Aaron Kelly on the "Rock Solid."

Bucky Zentner and friends with cobia to 78 lbs. they hooked while sight-casting to fish off Hatteras Inlet with Capt. Jeremy Hicks on the "Capt. Snag" out of Oden's Dock.

J.D. Payne and Morgan Morgan prepare to release a blue marlin and add some points to the "Coverage" crew's score in the Hatteras Village Offshore Open. Boat owner Jim Holmes battled this fish and two others in one day on the team's way to victory in the event.

Leroy Everhard, from Kernersville, NC, with a 57 lb. dolphin that he hooked while trolling near the Big Rock. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.

Robert Auton with a 14 lb., 2 oz. mutton snapper that bit a Boston mackerel offshore of Beaufort Inlet while he was fishing on the headboat "Capt. Stacy."

Brent Griffin, of Newport, NC, with a speckled trout he hooked in a creek off the Neuse River. The fat speck fell for a Mardi Gras-colored MR17 MirrOlure.

Penny Asby with a tagged striped bass, one of many she hooked on topwater plugs while fishing the Pamlico River with Capt. Mitchell Blake of FishIBX.com.

Kate Thomas, from GA, with a red drum that struck a chunk of blue crab in the Sunset Beach bridge canal while she was fishing with Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters.

Ben Rollason, of Kill Devil Hills, with a 21" puppy drum that he hooked while fishing from Jennette's Pier.

David Barr, of Moyock, NC, with an 18 lb. striped bass that bit a sand flea off Outer Banks Pier.

Gary Gilbert and friends from Durham, NC, with a big haul of gaffer dolphin, seven yellowfin tuna, and a white marlin release flag, results of a mid-May trip offshore of Oregon Inlet with Capt. Dave Peck on the "Skiligal" out of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.

Anne Lusk with one of many large speckled trout she and her husband Matt hooked on soft plastic baits in the Nags Head surf.

Will Snellgrove, of Ft. Mill, SC, with a blackfin tuna that bit a ballyhoo behind a trolling weight near the Steeples while he was fishing out of Holden Beach aboard the "Pokey."

Dr. Robert Littleton with a red drum that bit a live mud minnow near a Holden Beach dock.

Casey and Taylor Miller and Drew Wilkinson with a citation 45.3 lb. wahoo that bit a skirted ballyhoo near the 100/400 while they were fishing with Mike Miller.

Capt. Ryan Rayfield, of Conjured Up Fishing Charters, with a citation-class red drum that bit a 2 oz. bucktail jig a few miles off Oak Island. The fish was released after the photo.

Matthew "Bambam" Huff, of Raleigh, with a 42.14 lb. gag grouper (3 lbs. off the state record) that attacked a 200g knife jig in 280' of water offshore of Frying Pan Tower while he was fishing aboard the "Bubbles" out of Southport.

Nicole St. Cyr, of Southport, with a 26 lb. dolphin she hooked while trolling 60 miles off Bald Head Island with Patrick Jones and Andy and Boyce Broadwell on the "Nauti Lady."

Brian Vick, Casey Kennedy, and Jerry Moss with a 73.4 lb. cobia that bit a live menhaden just off the beach at Oak Island. Weighed in at Oak Island Pier.

Kristina Steenborg, of Southport, NC, with a 31 lb. king mackerel that struck a live menhaden beneath a kite off Oak Island.

Harry Fisler with a 40 lb. dolphin that bit a ballyhoo under a red/black Blue Water Candy Mini Jag near the Swansboro Hole while he was fishing with David Cavanaugh.

Morgan Smith with an upper-slot red drum that struck a topwater plug near Emerald Isle while she was fishing with Capt. Johnathan Garrett of On Point Charters.

Capt. Wayne Crisco, of Last Resort Charters out of the Topsail area, with a 4+ lb. spanish mackerel caught on a 1 oz. diamond jig while fishing a few miles out of New River Inlet.

Wesley Roberson, of Lillington, NC, with a 26" red drum that bit a cut bait in the surf at the south end of Topsail Island.

Matthew Stokely, of Wilmington, with a 27 lb. red grouper that bit a squid/cigar minnow combo at some bottom structure in 130' of water off Wrightsville Beach while he was fishing with Capt. Arlen Ash of Ultimate Reaction Charters.

Ashley Robins, of Wilmington, with a bluefish that bit a live finger mullet in Masons Inlet.

Hunter Kailos with a bull dolphin that bit a black/yellow/clear trolling plug 57 miles off Masonboro Inlet while he was fishing with Clint Cornette.

Brent Hinson, of Wilmington, with a 24" black drum that bit shrimp in the surf at Wrightsville Beach.

Snead Carey, of Roxboro, NC, with a fat flounder that bit a Gulp bait off the ICW while he was fishing with Capt. Wayne Crisco of Last Resort Charters.

Robert McNeill and Adam Prince prepare to release a 175 lb. class blue marlin that earned the "Safari" team 400 points and the win in the Boy Scout Gulf Stream Open, held May 7-10 out of Wrightsville Beach Marina. The blue bit a pink trolling plug and was battled to the boat by Matt Bork.

Tyler Chabot, of Kure Beach, with a 6 lb. flounder that bit a soft plastic bait in Snow's Cut. Weighed in at Kure Pier.

Claire Dufour with her first yellowmouth and snowy groupers, hooked on squid while she was bottom fishing in 480' of water off Cape Lookout with her father Jaques and brother Jacky Dufour on the "Merry Marlin."

Jessica Hayes with a 10.25 lb. flounder she hooked on a live menahden while fishing inshore at Holden Beach with Cody Pyatte.

Megan Gerrell with a 28" red drum she caught and released in Broad Creek off the Neuse River while fishing with shrimp.

Leighton Randall with a 22 lb. dolphin he hooked on a skirted ballyhoo while trolling near the Same Ol' Hole with his father on the "Hi-Def."

Dessie and Madison Howard with Dessie's first flounder, a 4 lb. fish that struck a live finger mullet at the Southport waterfront while they were fishing with Capt. Alan Beasley on the "Reel Rocker."

Capt. Corbett Johnson, of Reelax Fishing Charters, with a bull dolphin he hooked on a green/pink-skirted squid strip while trolling off Beaufort Inlet near the NW Places.

Mark Jones and Alan Harris with the 50.14 lb. king mackerel that secured first place in Leg 2 of the Cape Lookout Shootout King Mackerel Series for the "Miss Teny" crew. The big king struck a 2 lb. bluefish near the George Summerlin Reef while they were fishing with Ashley Jones and Randy Chase.

C.J. Branco (age 8), of Wilmington, with a red drum that struck a live pinfish while he was fishing from an ICW dock.

Donna Gurganus relased this blue marlin while trolling out of Carolina Beach with Bruce Martin near the Same Ol' Hole. The blue fell for a Lil' Stubby chugger and was battled on a Penn 6/0.

Bryson Mayo with his first speckled trout, an 18" fish that inhaled a live bait on a Carolina rig near Carolina Beach Inlet.

Jessica Dean, of Mount Pleasant, NC, with a red drum that struck a live finger mullet at some nearshore structure off Carolina Beach.

Hannah Winchell, of Iowa, with a 31" red drum she caught and released after it bit a live finger mullet in Snows Cut while she was fishing with Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer Charters.

Ricahrd and Connor Mcinnis, of Rockingham, NC, with Connor's first offshore fish, a wahoo that he landed while trolling offshore of Hatteras Inlet with on the "Hatteras Fever II" with Capt. Buddy Hooper.

Pat and Matthew Kelly, of Chesapeake, VA, with a pending NC State Record skipjack tuna. The pair hooked the 32 lb. fish while trolling off Hatteras Inlet on the "Megabite." Weighed in at Teach's Lair Marina.

Rachel Morgan, of Beaufort, NC, with a 7.23 lb. flounder that bit a live fiddler crab near the Morehead port wall. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.

Beth Lee with her first red drum, a 28" fish that bit a live finger mullet under a popping cork in a Beaufort-area marsh while she was fishing with her boyfriend, Capt. Chris Kimrey of Mount Maker Charters.

Thad and Seth Moye with a pair of triggerfish they hooked on cut baits while bottom fishing off Beaufort Inlet.

Scott Vasser, of Leesville, VA, with a citation red drum that inhaled a D.O.A. Airhead soft plastic beneath a popping cork in the Pamlico Sound while he was fishing with Capt. Dave Stewart of Knee Deep Custom Charters.

Rob Istone, of Hertz Rental Equipment Wilmington, with a citation red drum that struck a chunk of mullet while he was fishing the Pamlico Sound just off Cedar Island.

Jack Jackson, of Havelock, NC, with a citation-class red drum he caught and released after it struck a D.O.A. Deadly Combo rig while he was kayak-fishing the lower Neuse River.

David Campbell with a stringer of flounder and a black drum he hooked in the ICW near North Myrtle Beach.

William and Wayne Reynolds and Brantley Guinn celebrate a grand slam of billfish releases they found off Oregon Inlet in late August while trolling aboard the "Miss Shell."

John Newbold, of TW's Tackle, with a puppy drum that he hooked while surf fishing the Nags Head beach at Ramp 4 near Oregon Inlet.

Renee Bennett, of Asheboro, NC, with a 20" flounder she hooked on a Gulp shrimp in Shallotte Inlet.

Matt Nelson with an 8.76 lb. spanish mackerel that bit a live finger mullet at some nearshore structure off Lockwood Folly Inlet while he was fishing with Capt. Kevin Sneed of Rigged and Ready Charters.

Teak Salmons with a 27" red drum that inhaled a live mud minnow while she was fishing from a Shalotte River dock.

Katelyn Kincer, of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center, with a red drum she hooked in Tubbs Inlet while fishing with Taylor Henkel. The red fell for a live finger mullet.

Makala Hall (age 12), of Archdale, NC, with her first red drum, a 25" fish that bit a live finger mullet while she was fishing Davis Creek on her borther's boat.

Riley Larsen, of Sewickley, PA, with a red drum that attacked a live bait near Bald Head Island while he was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.

Jakob Puskas with an African pompano that bit a live bait near Frying Pan Tower while he was fishing with his uncle Brian.

Tim Johnson, of Ocean, NC, with a 27" red drum that bit a Betts Halo Shrimp off his Bogue Sound dock.

Clif Holloman and Brandon Creech with a 52 lb. wahoo that bit a ballyhoo behind a Blue Water Candy JAG at the Rise while they were trolling on the "King Finz."

Capt. Jamie Rushing, of Seagate Charters, with an overslot red drum that hit an Excaliber Spook topwater on an early morning incoming tide. He was fishing near Wrightsville Beach.

Doug, Brandy, and Josh Kelly, of Topsail Beach, with the results of a triple red drum hookup they found while surf fishing the local beachfront. The fish on the left was over-slot and released after the photo.

Gage Gattone, of Rocky Point, NC, and Kris Erickson, of Castle Hayne, with the results of a double redfish hookup they found behind Topsail Island. The 25 and 27" reds fell for live baits.

T.J. Conroy, of Pittsburgh, PA, with his first ling mackerel, a 25 lb. fish that struck a live blue runner off the end of Surf City Pier.

Samantha Ducharme, of Detroit, MI, with her first flounder, a 19" fish that bit cut shrimp off Seaview Pier.

Dave Hannah, of Wilmington, with a 35 lb. king mackerel that struck a live bluefish off Johnnie Mercers Pier.

Web Eckel (age 9) with a 4+ lb. flounder he hooked on a live finger mullet off his dock at Wrightsville Beach.

Andrew Botterio with a 20" speckled trout that bit a MirrOlure in Carolina Beach Inlet.

Ryan and Andy Zelaski, of VA and NY, with 5.2, 5.4, and 6.13 lb. flounder they hooked while fishing near Carolina Beach with Capt. Robert Schoonmaker of Carolina Explorer Charters.

Brian McCloskey and Butch Davis--team "I'd Hit It"--with the flounder and winning 7.45 lb. red drum they weighed in at the Carolina Beach Inshore Challenge. Both bit mullet near a grass bank at Wrightsville Beach.

Wilmington's John Donovan with the 4.12 lb. flounder that he weighed in at the Carolina Beach Inshore Challenge, one of the three fish that made up the 16.65 lb. aggregate weight that earned him first place in the Flounder Division of the Fisherman's Post Inshore Tournament Trail. The "3 Tippetts" crew, also of Wilmington, put together a 20.22 lb. three-fish aggregate to take home the honors in the Red Drum Divsion of the Trail.

Kaya Steele and her father, of PA, with one of many puppy drum Kaya landed while sight-casting to fish in the Pamlico Sound with a pink 5' Zebco combo. she was fishing with wutg Capt. Jerry Teel of Got-Em Charters out of Teachs Lair Marina.

David Embrey, of King George,VA, with a flounder he hooked on a buctkail tipped with a strip bait in the Hatteras Village surf.

Brian Villeneuve and Brinkley Willis with Brian's first king mackerel. The king attacked a live menhaden just outside Beaufort Inlet while they were fishing with Capt. Chris Kimrey of Mount Maker Charters.

Dwayne Smith and Tyler Bradsher, of Cary NC, with a slot red drum Bradsher caught in a Morehead-area marsh after it struck a Salty Bay Baits Red Devil spinnerbait.

Brooke Chambers with a citation-class red drum that bit a chunk of mullet in the Pamlico Sound.

George Poveromo with a citation red drum that struck a D.O.A. soft plastic beneath a popping cork while he was fishing the Neuse River with Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec Fever Guide Service.

David and Jessica Buchanan with a 49" red drum they caught and released in the Pamlico River after it struck an artificial while they were fishing with Capt. Mitchell Blake of FishIBX.com.

Dan Furimsky, of Greenville, NC, with a 49" red drum that bit a popping cork rig while he was kayak fishing the Neuse River.

Wilson Cole with a 22 lb. king mackerel that bit a live bait off Cherry Grove Pier.

Kennedy Bowman (age 7), of Wake Forest, NC, with a citation 5 lb., 10 oz. black sea bass that struck cut squid in 350' of water south of the Point while fishing with family. Weighed in at Pirate's Cove Marina.

Harris Sloane and friends from Charlotte, NC, with yellowfin tuna and dolphin they hooked while trolling offshore of Oregon Inlet with Capt. Dave Peck and mate Jason Sadler out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.

Henry Hoffman with a red drum that struck a Gulp shrimp near the Bodie Island lighthouse. Photo courtesy of TW's Tackle.

Frank Westmoreland, of Greensboro, NC, with a 23" flounder that bit a Gulp bait inshore at Ocean Isle Beach.

Maryann Redington with a wahoo that struck a purple/red sea witch near the Blackjack Hole while she was trolling on the "ANNALI."

Lee Padrick and Dwayne Smith--"The Redfish Guys"--with the 13.30 lb. pair of red drum that earned them first place in the Riley Rods Fall Redfish Shootout out of Surf City. The fish fell for a popping cork rig and a topwater plug in a Sneads Ferry marsh.

Brayden Linebarger (age 12), of Raleigh, NC, with a citation 6.58 lb. spanish mackerel that he hooked on a live menhaden at Lighthouse Rocks while fishing with his grandparents on the "Whatever."

Will Harrrington, of Albermarle, NC, with a fat sheepshead he hooked on a live fiddler crab at some structure in the Cape Fear River near Southport.

David Derrick, of Oak Island, NC, with a 12 lb. flounder he hooked while fishing near Oak Island. Photo courtesy of Wildlife Bait and Tackle.

Benanne Stiens, of Mebane, NC, with a red drum she hooked on cut mullet from the surf near Bear Inlet.

Tucker Holland (age 9) with a 27" red drum he hooked in Bogue Sound while fishing with his grandfather.

Katie Kuzma, of Leesburg, VA, with a 5.5 lb. flounder that bit a live finger mullet near a marsh grass point behind Emerald Isle. She was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.

Natalie Godwin, of Beaufort, NC, with her first red drum, a 25" fish that struck a Gulp shrimp in a Topsail Island bay while she was fishing with her boyfriend Will Epperson.

Taylor Wiley, of Sneads Fery, with a 24.3 lb. king mackerel that attacked a live threadfin herring off Seaview Pier.

Samantha Suarez with a 22" flounder that bit a live finger mullet on a high falling tide at a Topsail-area dock.

Tracy Saieed with a 26" red drum that attacked a Gulp shrimp near Richs Inlet while she was fishing on the "Wahoo."

Qwen Gorchess (age 7) with his first red drum, a 25" fish that fell for a live finger mullet near Wrightsville Beach.

Tracy Dula, of Charlotte, NC, with a 53 lb. wahoo that bit a ballyhoo behind a Blue Water Candy JAG in 200' of water near the Same Ol' Hole. He was fishing off Wrightsville Beach with Capt. Mike Jackson of Live Line Charters.

The Junior Anglers who participated in the 2014 Wide Open Tech Spanish Mackerel Open with the medals and Blue Water Candy prize packs they earned for weighing in fish in the event.

Sarah and Scott Hunt, of the "Double Shot" fishing team, with a quartet of spanish mackerel including the trio that earned the crew first place in the Wide Open Tech Spanish Mackerel Open. The spaniards bit trolled Clarkspoons near the Liberty Ship.

Marty Edwards and Kenneth Crisco topped the leaderboard at the Bay Creek Classic with this 7.25 lb. flounder. Crisco hooked the big flatfish while casting a large mullet to a deep hole in the Lockwood Folly River.

Dahlton Sapp (age 3), of Wilmington, with his first croaker, hooked on a piece of squid near Carolina Beach Inlet.

Vic Meredith, of Veradale, WA, with a 9 lb., 5 oz. flounder that attacked a live finger mullet while he was fishing near Carolina Beach with Capt. Dennis Barbour of Island Tackle Charters.

Sherry Hunt, of Charlotte, with a red grouper that bit a live tomtate at some live bottom 40 miles off Carolina Beach while she was fishing with Capt. Tom Sayre on "The Mate."

Chris McDougald, of Burgaw, with a 7 lb., 11 oz., 25" flounder that struck a live finger mullet in Snows Cut.

Jason Henderson, of Flat Top Lake, WV, with an over-slot red drum that struck a chunk of bluefish in the Buxton surf.

Macy Wojciechowski (age 8) and Patrick Harrell (age 14) with flounder that bit live finger mullet near AR-315.

Bubba and Sam Sanderson with 31 and 34 lb. king mackerel they hooked 18 miles off Cape Lookout on live menhaden. Weighed in at EJW Outdoors.

Roman Laibida, Steve Bohannon, and Tony Hall with a 70 lb. wahoo that attacked a skirted ballyhoo northeast of the Big Rock while they were trolling with Bruce Lee on the "Odessa." Weighed in at Harkers Island Fishing Center.

Rick Haug and Tommy McGhee with a pair of well over-slot red drum they hooked on topwater plugs while fishing off Cape Lookout with Capt. Chris Kimrey of Mount Maker Charters.

Katie Speed, of Cape Carteret, with a 28 lb. king mackerel she landed 2 miles off Bardens Inlet while fishing on the "Ally-Reb." A live menhaden fooled the king.

Travis Overman and Chad Bazen, of Bazen Custom Rods, with a 51" red drum they caught and released after it bit a cut bait in the Pamlico Sound near the mouth of the Neuse River. They were fishing with Justin Eddins.

Kim Sink, of Wilmington, caught and released this 48" red drum while fishing the lower Neuse River with Capt. Greg Voliva of Four Seasons Guide Service.

Heidi Griffee, of New Bern, caught and released this 52" red drum in the Pamlico Sound after it engulfed a chunk of mullet while she was fishing with Ben Ricks.

Travis Elliott, of Statesville, NC, with a 5 lb. spanish mackerel that struck a topwater plug in Little River Inlet while he was fishing with Capt. Patrick Kelly of Capt. Smiley's Fishing Charters.

Bob Lambert, Sr., of Grandy, NC, with a 25" puppy drum that bit a Fish Bite sand flea of Outer Banks Pier.

Andrew Midgett with a slot red drum he hooked while bottom fishing from Jennette's Pier.

Jim LaRock caught and released this 46" red drum after it struck a bait he kayaked out from the surf in Corolla. Photo courtesy of TW's Tackle.

Benny Nye, of Lake Waccamaw, NC, with a 45" red drum that bit a live menhaden just off Ocean Isle Beach.

Frank Harrelson, Jr., of Charlotte, NC, with a citation red drum that struck cut menhaden just off Holden Beach while he was fishing with Capt. Kevin Sneed of Rigged and Ready Charters.

Nick and Chad McDonald, of Fayetteville, NC, with their first keeper flounder. Both bit live finger mullet in Lockwood Folly Inlet.

The "Reel Blessed" crew and the tournament record 53.25 lb. king mackerel that earned them the event's guaranteed $25,000 first place prize. Kevin and Jordan Norris and Curtis Trexel landed the monster mackerel after it fell for a live menhaden in 30' of water off Topsail Island.

Chad Barnes and John Lewis--Morehead City's "Second Chance" Fishing Team--with the 44.54 lb. king mackerel that earned them the tournament's top prize. Their big fish struck a live bluefish a short distance off the beach at Oak Island.

Jason Long, of Currie, NC, with a 3 lb. flounder that struck a live finger mullet in a Bald Head Island Creek.

Molly Kelley, of New Jersey, with an upper-slot red drum that pounced on a live finger mullet while she and her father were fishing near Southport with Capt. Ryan Rayfield of Conjured Up Charters.

Noah Robinson (age 16), from Georgia, with a 24" flounder that struck a live menhaden near Bald Head Island.

Jeff Wood, of Jacksonville, NC, with 6 and 3.5 lb. flounder he hooked on live finger mullet in Browns Inlet.

Rob Cordero, of Bogue, NC, with a 12 lb. gag grouper that bit a bucktail jig near Christmas Rock while he was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Charters.

Troy McGuire with a red drum he hooked on a Carolina-rigged finger mullet inshore of North Topsail Beach.

Justin and Aaron Holley with a 30" red drum Aaron caught and released in the surf near Topsail Inlet. The red fell for a live finger mullet.

Howard and Tyler Crumpler, Will and Gene Rivenbark, and Jaycob Rochelle with 23, 23, 27, 20, 26, and 23 lb. king mackerel they hooked recently while live-baiting from the end of Surf City Pier.

The winners of the Topsail Island Fall Surf Fishing Challenge with their prize money and plaques following the end of the 36-hour fishing marathon headquartered at Surf City's East Coast Sports.

John Hedgepeth, of Charlotte, with a 38 lb. king mackerel that bit a pink Yo-Zuri Deep Diver near 10 Mile Rock while he was fishing off Wrightsville Beach with J.B. Renshaw.

Justin Bland, of Wrightsville Beach, with a red drum that struck a Gulp bait beneath a popping cork around a local dock.

Dak Millis, of Wilmington, with a citation red drum he caught and released while fishing just off Wrightsville Beach with Capt. Jamie Rushing of Seagate Charters.

Jared Ziegler, a Marine from Wake Forest, NC, with a wahoo that struck a high-speed bait while he was fishing with Capt. Dave Gardner aboard the headboat "Vonda Kay" out of Wrightsville Beach.