Three big blue marlin dominated the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic leaderboard this week as the 2014 event drew to a close. But in the end, it was the first one weighed that earned the biggest prize.
Angler Deb Hebert, fishing aboard Joe Hudson’s 68 Hatteras Iona Louise, landed a 843.7-pound blue marlin on Friday after a fight lasting more than three hours. It turned out to be the largest marlin ever caught by a lady angler in Classic history and earned Hebert the Lady Angler trophy. She also brought in a 38.6-pound dolphin on Saturday. All told, the Iona Louise pocketed $195,000 for the first place tournament award and optional entries in the blue marlin division, top crew award and third place for the dolphin. Iona Louise will represent the MGCBC in next year’s Offshore World Championship.
“I absolutely love fishing,” Hebert explained at the awards breakfast, hosted by Platinum Sponsor, the Golden Nugget Casino and Resort. Hebert only recently started participating in the sport. “I owe it all to my fiancé Joe and my team. They turned me on to fishing and now I’m hooked.”
Read the Full Post By Capt. Dave Lear – “Triple Play”
Place|Boat|Angler|Captain|HomePort|Weight/Points|Payout
1st Place|CONUNDRUM – 61ft. Viking||Jimmy Crochet|Orange Beach, AL|1200|$1,200
[/table]
Place|Boat|Angler|Captain|HomePort|Weight/Points|Payout
1st Place|CONUNDRUM – 61ft. Viking|Multiple|Jimmy Crochet|Orange Beach, AL|1200|$2,500
[/table]
Place|Boat|Angler|Captain|HomePort|Weight/Points|Payout
1st Place|IONA LOUISE – 60’ft. Bertram|Deb Hebert|Larry McMillian|Montgomery, AL|843.7|$50,000
2nd Place|PATIENCE – 52ft. Hatteras|Andy Ryan|Parker Huddle|Orange Beach, AL|680.1|$20,000
3rd Place|REEL WORTHLESS – 64’ft. Viking|Tim Falzone|Myles Colley|Pensacola, FL|539.1|$10,000
Place|Boat|Angler|Captain|HomePort|Weight/Points|Payout
1st Place|BLUE SMOKER – 53ft. Hatteras|Brian Replogle|Zach Salzman|Orange Beach, AL|173.3|$10,000
2nd Place|RISE UP – 52ft. Viking|Bennett Dudly|Jason Hallmark|Destin, FL|158.5|$7,500
3rd Place|DONT BLINK – 56ft. Viking|Jason Benton|Jeremy Floden|Sandestin, FL|147.4|$5,000
Place|Boat|Angler|Captain|HomePort|Weight/Points|Payout
1st Place|MARLIN DARLIN – 70ft. Viking|Jimmy Reynolds|Matt Condon|Ft. Myers, FL|67.5|$10,000
2nd Place|FOUR REEL – 65ft. Hatteras|Taylor Harvey|Mike Gordy|Madisonville, LA|66.3|$7,500
3rd Place|COTTON PATCH – 60ft. Hatteras|James Calloway|James Galloway|Orange Beach, AL|61.3|$5,000
Place|Boat|Angler|Captain|HomePort|Weight/Points|Payout
1st Place|BLOODSPORT – 38ft. Luhrs|Brad Laquer|Mike Davis|Orange Beach, AL|43.3|$10,000
2nd Place|BLOODSPORT – 38ft. Luhrs|Pip Aljazra|Mike Davis|Orange Beach, AL|39.9|$7,500
3rd Place|IONA LOUISE – 60ft. Bertram|Deb Hebert|Larry McMillian|Montgomery, AL|38.6|$5,000
Place|Boat|Angler|Captain|HomePort
1st Place|IONA LOUISE, 60ft. Bertram|Deb Hebert|Larry McMillian|Montgomery, AL
[/table]
