Final Results - Reel Hooked takes top prize

After weighing a 38.32-pound king mackerel Saturday, the crew of the Reel Hooked fishing team out of Beaufort became extremely interested spectators as the final boats weighed their catches in the 15th annual Key West Boats Fishing for Miracles King Mackerel Tournament.

Each time a fish registered more than 30 pounds, Shane Hicks and his crew held their breath, not exhaling until the scales settled and their fish remained in the top spot. And finally, around 4:30 p.m. they could breathe that sigh of relief as they captured the $25,000 top prize.

In addition to Hicks, the Reel Hooked fishing crew included his wife Jill and their son Tyler, along with David Watson, Kathy Watson and Guy Talley.

"I just happened to be there when the rod went off," Hicks said of the fish, which was caught around midday. "The fish (jumped) all of the lines. We thought we were in trouble."

The crew had fished out of Beaufort on Friday and weighed a 19.94-pound king, but because of the price of fuel they elected to fish just off Charleston on Saturday.

Second place went to first-day leader Smoke Chaser, captained by Steve Cross of Savannah, who boated a 37.03-pound fish by himself. His other crew members were unable to fish on Friday. Cross earned $7,500 plus $3,000 for the largest catch aboard a 23-foot or smaller boat.

The second-largest payday of the tournament, $17,530, went to the Summerville boat Eren's Addiction Too, which finished fifth overall with a 35.96-pound king mackerel worth $1,000 caught Friday. That fish also earned another $1,000 for lady angler Eren Bracewell, $500 for the early entry award and second place in both the 23-under division and second in the tournament within a tournament heaviest fish, worth $2,000 and $5,130. Eren's Addiction Too caught a 35.53-pound king Saturday for an aggregate total of 71.63 pounds, earning another $7,900.

Another five-figure payday, $11,550, went to Little R&R, captained by Rick Driver, which finished fourth overall with a 36.17-pound king. The overall finish was worth $2,000, and they added $1,000 for the top fish caught aboard a Key West boat and $8,550 as the top catch in the optional tournament within a tournament heaviest fish competition.

OVERALL RESULTS

1. Reel Hooked, Capt. Shane Hicks, 38.32 pounds, $25,000; 2. Smoke Chaser, Steve Cross, 37.03, $7,500; 3. On The Brink, Kelley Clements, 36.65, $5,000; 4. Little R&R, Rick Driver, 36.17, $2,000; 5. Eren's Addiction Too, Jack Bracewell, 35.96, $1,000; 6. Four Sons II, William Gressette, 35.73, $750; 7. Seadaze, Michael O'Neale, 35.31, $500; 8. Nacho Momma, Thomas Hutto III, 35.20, $500; 9. Fin Stalker, Chris Chavis, 34.94, $500; 10. Iron Man, David Ballard, 34.64, $500; 11. Bitta Sweet, Stuart Harkins, 33.69, $500; 12. Dirty Work, Joe Wells, 33.40, $500; 13. Pole Dancer, Ted Weitzner, 33.04, $500; 14. Raisin' Hayes, Michael Hayes, 32.92, $500; 15. G's Toy, John Dunn Jr., 32.60, $500; 16. Fish Hunter, Melvin Knight Jr., 32.50, $500; 17. My Last Boat V, Jamey Kampmeyer, 31.83, $500; 18. Bow Movement, Jim Sherrer, 31.63; 19. Reelin', Marc Pincus, 31.42, $500; 20. Team Winners World, Ralph Turner, 31.16, $500; 21. The Blue Bull, David Tom Berlin, 30.95; 22. Sunchaser Charters, Andy Winter, 30.91, $500; 23. BeerAbility, Dow Suggs, 30.70, $500; 24. Knothead, Doug Hoover, 30.46, $500; 25. Pole Dancer, David Hartness, 30.24; 26. Reel Hot, David Carter, 30.14, $500; 27. Gas Money, James Lane, 29.88, $500; 28. Mad Banana, Clinton Chamness, 29.87, $500; 29. HammerDown, Monty Bates, 29.77; 30. Speedgoat, Dean Hinely, 29.55, $500.

Lady Angler: Eren's Addiction Too, Eren Bracewell, 35.96, $1,000.

Youth Angler: On The Brink, Phillp Bowdle, 36.65, $1,000; Nacho Momma, Madison Hutto, 35.20, $500; Iron Man, Lee Cannon Ballard, 34.64, $300; BeerAbility, Cole Suggs, 30.70, $200.

Early Entry: Eren's Addiction, Jack Bracewell, 35.96, $500.

Key West Boats: Little R&R, Rick Driver, 36.17, $1,000; Bow Movement, Jim Sherrer, 31.63, $500.

23-Under Class: Smoke Chaser, Steve Cross, 38.32, $3,000; Eren's Addiction Too, Jack Bracewell, 35.96, $2,000; Seadaze, Michael O'Neale, 35.31, $1,000.

Tournament Within A Tournament Largest King: Little R&R, Rick Driver, 36.17, $8,550; Eren's Addiction Too, Jack Bracewell, 35.96, $5,130; Four Sons II, William Gressette, 35.73, $3,420.

Tournament Within A Tournament Aggregate: Eren's Addication Too, Jack Bracewell, 71.63, $7,900; Sunchaser Charters, Andy White, 59.06, $4,740; Bitta Sweet, Stuart Harkins, 58.59, $3,160.

Final Results here

Reel Hooked Fishing Team and other photo's

ALL CASH PRIZES

TOURNAMENT WITHIN A

TOURNAMENT

Entry Fee: $100 Per Boat • 100% Payback

Largest King Mackerel

All Cash Pay-Out
1st – 50%
2nd – 30%
3rd – 20%

Boat Aggregate
(2 Largest King Mackerel)

1 Fish Per Boat Per Day 
All Cash Pay-Out
1st – 50%
2nd – 30%
3rd – 20%

BONUSES

Captain’s Drawing                                                                        $1,000
Must be present to win! One $500 drawing a Captain’s Meeting and two $250 drawings at Awards Ceremony.

Lady Angler                                                                                    $1,000
Largest King Mackerel caught - must be caught &
weighed in by a lady angler, 16 years of age and older.

Youth Angler                                                                                 $1,000 1st
Largest King Mackerel caught by                                           $500 2nd
four youth anglers 15 years and under                                              $300 3rd
(one award per angler)                                                     $200 4th

Early Entry Award                                                                            $500
The largest King Mackerel caught by an early entry boat. Entry must be postmarked by July 31, 2007.

Key West Boats
The largest Kingfish caught on a                                        $1,000 1st
Key West Boat purchased from                                                      $500 2nd
Butler Marine.

High Five, Courtesy of Ed Smith Insurance Agency              $50,000
One Captain will have a chance to
win up to $50,000. Must be present
at the banquet Saturday night to participate.

CCA AWARDS
CCA Outstanding Boat                                                                   $1,000 
Largest King Mackerel caught by any boat consisting of all South Carolina CCA members.

Rising Tide Youth Angler                                                                 $500
The largest King Mackerel caught by a current member of the Coastal Conservation Association of SC’s Rising Tide Youth Angler. Angler must be 17 years of age and younger.

OFFICIAL RULES

1. Eligible fish: King Mackerel only (Scomberomorus cavalla). Minimum length 36” fork length.

2. Tournament officials will monitor VHF channel 16 during competition hours.

3. All fish become property of the tournament.

4. ONLY ONE GRAND PRIZE PER BOAT.

5. There shall be no more than six lines fished from any boat.

6. There are no restrictions on the number of people allowed aboard each boat during competition hours.

7. This is a sporting event. All fish must be taken on rod and reels, no hand lines or electric reels are allowed.

8. This is a captain’s choice tournament. No weather day. Fishing is at the captain’s discretion; the captain will accept full responsibility for his actions.

9. In the event of a natural disaster, 50% of the entry fee will be refunded.

10. All boats must meet both USCG and the State of SC safety requirements in order to qualify for competition. South Carolina requires all anglers to have a SC saltwater fishing license.

11. Tournament Committee reserves the right to inspect any boat entered in competition, including an onboard inspection.

12. Grand Prize money is based on 200 paid entries. If less than 200 boats are entered, the prize money will be decreased on a pro-rata basis.

13. Boats substituted after entry deadline must be approved by the Tournament Committee prior to leaving port.

14. The Tournament Committee must approve any entries submitted to the Tournament. If the entry is not approved, 100% of the entry fee will be refunded. This is not an open tournament.

15. Tournament Committee and sponsors may compete.

16. 23 and Under Class, verification may be required.

17. No bait may be exchanged from boat to boat during tournament hours.

18. Fishing allowed in South Carolina waters Only

COMPETITION NO CHECK OUT

1. On tournament days, competition hours are: 

Friday, August 15 6:30 am to 5:00 pm

Saturday, August 16 6:30 am to 4:00 pm

2. There is no check out. Boats may leave from any inlet, but must weigh in at the official weigh-in station at Ripley Light Yacht Club. Official tournament time will be GPS time.

3. No boats are to congregate together during tournament hours.

4. No lines in the water before 6:30 am.

5. No boat on either Fish Day shall be placed on a trailer, during the competition hours, that is in route to the weigh-in station. 

CHECK-IN AND VERIFICATION

1. Entrants wishing to weigh fish for competition must check in with the official committee boat and proceed in an orderly fashion directly to the weigh station. 

2. Check-in boat location: To be announced at Captain’s Meeting.

3. Check-in time:

Friday, August 15th 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Boats checking in after 5:00 pm cannot weigh in fish for that day.

Saturday, August 16th 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Boats checking in after 4:00 pm cannot weigh in fish for that day.

Fish must be weighed in on the day the fish is caught.

4. Each boat in tournament competition will receive an entry number card. This number must be displayed and acknowledged by the official committee boat at check-in. This recognition is the responsibility of the fishing boat captain.

5. All fish presented to the weighmaster are subject to the Torry meter test, in order to be eligible for prizes.

6. Fish to be weighed in must be from the boat in which they were caught. Fish cannot be transferred from one boat to another.

7. Fish shall not be mutilated in any way other than hook and gaff marks. All hooks and leaders must be removed before weigh-in as a safety measure.

8. Prizes are awarded solely on the basis of fish weight. In the event of identical weights, the first fish weighed in shall be declared the winner.

9. It is the sole responsibility of the crew aboard each boat to offload and present its catch for weighing. Crews should have their fish ready for offloading. The angler must accompany the fish to the weigh station.

No boats will be allowed to tie up at the offloading dock.

10. A signed weigh-in voucher will be required for each individual who places a fish in competition for tournament prizes. Tournament scales will be official weigh-in results. No other weights will be accepted.

11. All protests concerning the determination of tournament prize winners shall be made no later than one hour after the last fish has been weighed on the day it occurs and must be accompanied by a $200 cash protest fee. In the event that a protest is not upheld by the tournament committee, the $200 cash protest deposit becomes property of the Fishing for Miracles Tournament. All decisions made by the tournament committee shall be final.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Thursday, August 14 
2:00 pm Registration opens at Ripley Light Yacht Club through 9:00 pm
5:00 pm Refreshments and supper
6:30 pm until 8:00 pm Captain’s Meeting  
       It is advised that all captains attend, as any rule changes will be announced

Friday, August 15 
6:30 am Competition begins
2:00 pm Scales open 
5:00 pm Competition ends for the day

Saturday, August 16 
6:30 am Competition begins
1:00 pm Scales open
4:00 pm Competition ends for the day
5:00 pm Supper and entertainment
7:00 pm Awards Ceremony