85 Boats

This year the Classic became a qualifying event for the World Billfish Series and the IGFA Invitational Rolex Tournament of Champions.  The total purse increased to $700,000.  Damon Chouest with his 572.1 lb. blue marlin joined his brother, Dino, with a back-to-back win for the boat “Freedom.”  Dino won the classic in 1998.  Five more blue marlin were brought to the scales, but the highlight of the tournament was another Mississippi State record breaker.  A mammoth 837.1 lb. bluefin tuna was caught by Bob Struwe on the boat “Dreamin On.”  There were 28 blue marlin, 9 white marlin, 1 sailfish, and 1 spearfish tagged and released.

Blue Marlin

First
Freedom – Damon Chouest – 572.1 lbs

Second
Sidewinder – Mike Garza  – 479.9 lbs

Third
Golden Gaff – Bill Harrison – 452.5 lbs

Tuna

First
Dreamin On – Bob Struwe – 837.1 lbs

Second
Tinkerbell – Thurman Bell – 152.0 lbs

Third
Intruder – Anne Stokes – 138.1 lbs

Dolphin

First
Dixie Lee – Robert Howard – 78.9 lbs

Second
Expedition – Tip Cape – 44.8 lbs

Third
Mollie – Terry Bunn – 43.5 lbs

Wahoo

First
Bon Temp – Parke Berolzheimer – 78.9 lbs

Second
Bodacious – John Gray – 73.1 lbs

Third
Last Resort – Bill Abbott – 65.8 lbs