Photo by Adam Phillips for Island Marine Services
The Fa La Me, owned by Orlando's Frank Rodriguez and skippered by Fort Pierce's Capt. Robbie Moore, leads Wednesday's fleet of 17 boats which were fishing on the first day of the 32nd annual Pelican Yacht Club Invitational Billfish Tournament.
FORT PIERCE — The crews assembled for the 32nd annual Pelican Yacht Club Invitational Billfish Tournament may have found it hard to get out of bed on a bitter cold Wednesday morning. But after a spectacular day of sailfishing, that won't be the case the rest of the week.
Just 17 of the registered fleet of 29 boats left Fort Pierce Inlet, but they wound up catching and releasing an incredible 142 sailfish. Nearly half of the boats on the water scored double-digit releases, led by 13 for the team fishing aboard Bone Shaker — Capt. Scott Fawcett, owner Joe Lehner and anglers Van Wichers and Sky Wichers.
Hot on their heels with 12 sailfish apiece as the day wound up were the crews aboard Play Time, led by Capt. Darrin Cobb, and Outlaw, led by Capt. Ian Wichers. The crazy day saw numerous lead changes with teams aboard Sea Hag (11), Chasin Tail (11), Chasin (11), Lisa K (11) and Rough N It (10) each sharing the lead at one time or another.
Fawcett will have his fingers crossed as he tries to lead his team to its first tournament victory of the season and first Pelican victory since 2007. But it won't be easy when fishing is this good, he said.
"We had about 20 bites, which made it really exciting," said Fawcett who reported his starting and finishing position were around the former Loran 43400-line in 160 feet of water just north of Fort Pierce.
But other sailfish reports have Fawcett wondering which direction to run when fishing resumes Thursday.
"I heard Capt. Ray Rosher was fishing Wednesday off Jupiter Inlet, practicing for the Silver Sailfish Derby, and he had 44 sailfish catches live baiting," Fawcett said. "It's just good to know there's a body of fish this good out here right now."
Cobb steered Loxahatchee anglers Mike and Laura Cioffi to more than just 12 releases as a team. The Cioffis also stand as the top male and lady anglers with nine and three releases, respectively.
"We fished a spot in the mid-350's where we found a lot of bait and really pretty conditions," Cobb said. "We were going to take Thursday as our lay day, but after what we saw (Wednesday), we're definitely going to get back out there fishing."
Interesting developments also occurred in the always hotly contested Treasure Coast Sailfish Championship.
Leading teams Big Oh, with 43 sailfish, and Cowpoke, with 39 sailfish, elected not to fish Wednesday. They will now fish through Saturday, but must not stumble as the trailing teams closed ranks in the standings on Wednesday.
With 10 catches, Rough N It with Capt. Ed Nicolace drew even with 43 total catches. Chasin Tail now has 42, as does Bone Shaker, last season's defending TC champion. Because each team must take one lay day, Big Oh and Cowpoke will have an extra day of fishing to try to reopen the lead.
The fleet will fish daily through Saturday until 3:30 p.m., returning to the Pelican Yacht Club by 5 p.m. Tournament radio operator Terry Shafer is posting catches on the tournament's real time scoring page found at www.pelicanyachtclub.com.
PELICAN INVITATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENT
STANDINGS
Wednesday's catches
13: Bone Shaker, Capt. Scott Fawcett
12: Play Time, Capt. Darrin Cobb; Outlaw, Capt. Ian Wichers/Neil Subin
11: Sea Hag, Capt. Joe Colabella; Chasin, Capt. Bennett Griffin; Chasin Tail, Capt. Rob Valko; Lisa K, Capt. Bobby Randolph
10: Rough N It, Capt. Ed Nicolace
9: Micabe, Capt. Jay Weaver
8: Champagne Lady, Capt. James Ewing; Challenge, Capt. Jim Hardee
6: Fa La Me, Capt. Robbie Moore
5: Give It Away, Capt. ; Sea Check, Capt. V.J. Bell
4: Lo Que Sea, Capt. Glenn Cameron; Boomer, Capt. Scott Mantz
3: Intents, Capt. Don Mauldin
Totals: 142 sailfish, 17 boats (29 entered)
TREASURE COAST SAILFISH CHAMPIONSHIP
STANDINGS
43: Big Oh, Capt. Ronnie Fields (did not fish Wednesday)
43: Rough'n It, Capt. Ed Nicolace; Chasin Tail, Capt. Rob Valko; Bone Shaker, Capt. Scott Fawcett
39: Cowpoke, Capt. Mike Brady (did not fish Wednesday)
30: Sea Hag, Capt. Joe Colabella
24: J Hook, Capt. Dewey Price; Playtime, Capt. Darrin Cobb; Lisa K, Capt. Bobby Randolph
20: Miller Time, Capt. Rob Miller (did not fish Wednesday)
MARINE WEATHER
Thursday: Northwest winds 10 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet.
Friday: West winds 5 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet.
Saturday: Southwest winds 5 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
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