106 Boats
Bill McLellan, the Classic’s Tournament Coordinator since its inception in 1997, founder of Marlin Magazine and a man of vision in the sportfishing industry died after a lengthy battle with cancer. Eleven months after the Gulf of Mexico’s blue marlin record was broken by Conrad Hawkins at Bay Point, Barry Carr on the boat “Sea Wolff” set a new Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi State record with 1054.6 lb. blue marlin. A record crowd, along with the media from surrounding areas, came out to view the huge blue marlin and waited to see what other surprises might be brought to the scales. No other records were broken, but the audience was held captive by the many large tuna, dolphin, and wahoo that were weighed in one Saturday. There were 18 blue marlin, 6 white marlin and 3 sailfish tagged and released.
Blue Marlin
First
Sea Wolff – Barry Carr – 1054.6 lbs
Second
Sea Hunter – Robert Weaver – 548.6 lbs
Tuna
First
Trust Fun – Johnathan Guarisco – 192.4 lbs
Second
Westerly – Jamie Walley – 184.5 lbs
Third
Bella Maria – Craig Cole – 181.3 lbs
Dolphin
First
Strike It Rick – Mike Blake – 49.8 lbs
Second
Gunfighter – R. Tommaseo – 42.8 lbs
Third
Sea Spray – Roy Boroughs – 42.1 lbs
Wahoo
First
Pipe Dream – Kenneth Walker – 96.7 lbs
Second
Punch List – Michael Clayton – 74.7 lbs
Third
Dreamin On – Bob Struwe – 69.4 lbs