US Open KMT 2004
The jewel of Southport’s KMT season, the U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament, has come and gone. There were 428 boats entered in the tournament that was held October 1 and 2, and almost 500 kings were weighed in over the two days of fishing.
Dean Spatholt, of “Fish Meister” out of Calabash, NC, took first place and over $41,000 for his 41.3 lb. king. Greg Spatholt landed the fish on a pogy at 11:00 am. He was offshore of Morehead City in the waters near Cape Lookout.
Second place and a truly miraculous hook-up went to Capt. Gaston Hughes, on “Reel Music,” of Wilmington. The 41.05 lb. king lassoed himself around the tail. This occurred on a double rigged silverhead and pogy top-line in the middle of the spread. The hook-up came around noon on Friday at the Cabbage Patch, winning the Hughes crew over $20,000.
Third place, and over $10,000, went to Robert Ferris, on “Mad Mouse,” from Harrisburg, NC. Ferris reiterated the thoughts of many KMT anglers when he said, “Finally a good weekend for a king mackerel tournament.” He pulled a 40 pounder from the Tower at high noon on Saturday with a dead cigar minnow. The water was about 80 feet deep, calm, and the wind was flat.
Coming in 4th place was Brett Barnes, on “Hot Rod,” from Wilmington, with a 37.3 lb. fish. Alan Barnes, of the “Hot Rod” crew, landed the fourth place king, also taking the Junior Angler award. They caught their king at 10:30 am on Saturday somewhere off Shallotte on a shallow pogey.
The Barnes crew was followed by Brant McMullen on “Carolina Contender,” out of Shallotte, with a 34.7 lb. king. The 5th place fish was landed by Barrett McMullen close to Barden’s Inlet (on the north side). They said the “last-minute fish…skied and looked like a 95 pounder.” They added that they were lucky to land the fish as they hooked him in the tail.
Sixth through tenth places were as follows: Brian Cheshire of “Much 2 Reel” out of Wrightsville Beach with a 33.6 lb. king for 6th; Laurence Nichols of “Reel Nauti” out of Wilmington with a 32.75 lb. king for 7th; Welton Hatcher of “Showtime” out of Oak Island with a 31.95 lb. king for 8th; Earl Clewis of “Live Wire” out of Southport with a 31.45 lb. king for 9th; and John Lewis of “Second Chanze” out of Morehead with a 30.85 lb. king for 10th.
The proceeds went to the Southport/Oak Island’s Chamber of Commerce. Moneys raised in excess of the needs of S/OI’s C.O.C., a non-profit organization, are intended to be reinvested into the community. This includes scholarships for Brunswick Community College’s Aquaculture program, boosters for South Brunswick High School’s Aquaculture program, and the Long Bay Artificial Reef Association.
