Project Description
106 Boats – Classic exceeds $1,000,000
The Classic continued as the Premier Billfish Tournament for the eighth consecutive year. Cash and prizes exceeded $1,000,000. Jerry Pyron aboard the “Miss Celeste” captured first place in the Blue Marlin Division with a 631.7 pounder. Chris Ayo on the boat “Petite Marie” took second place with a 610.7 lbs. blue; Bill Steere aboard the boat “Fish Tale” came in 3rd with a 410 lb. blue; 4th was Jimmy Owens aboard the “Daybreak” with a 402.4 lb. blue and the 5th place blue marlin caught by Eric Parish weighed in at 357 pounds. 426 anglers from 16 different states participated in the Classic. 46 billfish were raised with 41 being tagged. 592.3 lbs. of wahoo, 1,680 lbs. of tuna, 1,787.8 lbs. of dolphin and 2,411.8 lbs. of blue marlin were weighed at the scales. The tournament paid cash awards totaling $1,060,000. Since no state records were broken, the 2004 Ford Expedition, Explorer, F-150 and Escape went unclaimed.
Blue Marlin
First
Miss Celeste – Jerry Pyron – 631.7 lbs
Second
Petite Marie – Chris Ayo – 610.7 lbs
Third
Fish Tale – Bill Steer – 410.0 lbs
Tuna
First
Miss Celeste – Charles Shumate – 151.4 lbs
Second
Ocean Commotion – Nick Sintz – 146.3 lbs
Third
High C’s – Hans Van Aller – 144.0 lbs
Dolphin
First
George Kendrick – Uptoit – 49.7 lbs
Second
Bella Maria – Russell Hann – 47.5 lbs
Third
Minute Maid – Eric Kercher – 47.2 lbs
Wahoo
First
Indy Connection – Jim Singleton – 64.5 lbs
Second
Road Runner III – Bryan Clegg – 53.2 lbs
Third
Hello Darlin – Ricky Beaton – 46.9 lbs