70 Boats
With tropical storm Arlene in the Gulf, 70 Boats remained from a field of 100 to complete another success story for the ninth consecutive year. John Bleakley aboard the “Bounty Hunter” took 1st place in the blue marlin division with a 463.5 lb. fish. Since there were no other blues caught, the “Bounty Hunter” took top honors and $180,650. 289 anglers participated in the Classic. 12 billfish were raisd with 11 being tagged. 463.5 lbs. of blue marlin, 614.7 lbs. of dolphin, 1,495 lbs. of tuna, and 741.7 lbs. of wahoo were weighed at the scales. No state records were broken so the Ford Expedition, Explorer, F-150, and Escape went unclaimed.
Blue Marlin
First
Bounty Hunter – Jim Bleakley – 463.5 lbs
Tuna
First
Summer Breeze – Hubert Austin – 121.3 lbs
Second
Royal Fortune – Dustin Trochesser – 116.4 lbs
Third
Big Adventure – J.W. Robinson – 108.8 lbs
Dolphin
First
First Choice – Kimmi Meyers – 38.8 lbs
Second
Royal Fortune – James Stanley – 37.8 lbs
Third
Sea Hunter – Butch Hall – 35.8 lbs
Wahoo
First
Reel Addiction – Wade Cantrelle – 86.1 lbs
Second
Hanky Panky – Randy Simmons – 73.5 lbs
Third
Bluewater Cat – Robert Boyce – 69.0 lbs