FORT PIERCE ANGLER WINS 1st BACKCOUNTRY FLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Islamorada, Florida Keys — Mark Wolaver of Fort Pierce, Fla., caught 113.75 total inches of redfish and snook on fly to win the 1st annual Backcountry Fly Championship.

Twenty five anglers competed in this new tournament, February 22 and 23, to catch the most inches of snook and redfish on fly. The angers could catch as many snook and redfish as they could, but only two of each species over two days.

Wolaver earned the title of grand champion angler fishing with Captain Chris Jones of Islamorada, Fla. Jones was named the tournament’s grand champion guide. Wolaver’s redfish were 32.5 & 32.25 inches, and his snook were 27.5 & 21.5 inches.

Tim Mahaffey of Miami, Fla. was awarded runner-up angler for scoring 112.875 inches of fish. Mahaffey fished with Captain Eric Herstedt of Coral Springs.

The largest snook, 34.75 inches, was caught by Alex Cruz of Miami, Fla., fishing with Carlos Ruiz, of Key Largo. The largest redfish, 32.625 inches, was caught by Frank Juliano of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., fishing with Jared Rascob of Islamorada.

Anglers on 25 boats caught 33 snook and 25 redfish over two days. The event will take place next year, February 21 & 22, 2009, for information contact Charlotte Ambrogio 305 664 2444.

POOR GIRLS TOURNAMENT, ISLAMORADA

ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys -- A triple hook-up and an adrenaline rush sparked by a fish that tried to “catch” an angler were among the highlights of the 19th annual Poor Girls Billfish Tournament held Feb. 20.

First place went to the Hattatude team out of Islamorada’s Holiday Isle, guided by Captain Ronnie Brack and his 22-year-old son Daniel Brack, the self-proclaimed “co-executive cockpit coordinator” -- or mate.

Team Hattatude scored an early triple hook-up and successfully landed all three sailfish by 9:30 a.m. Anglers were Terry Brack of Islamorada, who is Ronnie Brack’s wife and Daniel Brack’s mother, her sister Kristine Brack and niece Tammy Blackwell of Clewiston, Fla., both newcomers to sailfishing.

“It was awesome -- I lost track of time concentrating on what I was doing,” said Kristine Brack after catching a 65-pound sailfish that contributed to the win.

Terry Brack has been the tournament’s grand champion angler twice in previous years, and placed in the top three every time she has fished the event. Even with her experience, it took some complicated maneuvering for the teammates to capture all three fish.

“The first one got caught in the teaser and the second and third sailfish did a wrap on each other -- the left went to the right, the right went to the left,” said Daniel Brack.

Second-place honors went to the Hooked Up with Captain Z (Zehntner Gay) out of Worldwide Sportsman in Islamorada who fished with his wife, Samantha Cournoyer, and Kelly Farr of Tavernier. Each woman released one sailfish from a double hook-up, but one fish almost refused to stay released.

“That mean monster Kelly caught tried jumping back in the boat,” said Cournoyer. “He was after her.”

Third-place honors for two hook-ups went to another husband-wife-friend team. Captain John Oughton, aboard the Pretty Work out of Bud n’ Mary’s Marina in Islamorada, guided his wife, Andrea Oughton, Jennie Mears of Islamorada and Tracey Collins of Ocean City, Md.
The grand champion angler award went to 15-year-old Alexie Creary of Key Largo aboard the Yabba Dabba Do with Captain Steven Leopold. Creary released two sailfish.
First runner-up and largest tuna awards went to Sharon Mahoney of Islamorada. Janet Crane of Tavernier was second runner-up.

Largest Tuna went to Sharon Mahoney and largest Kingfish went to Christine Glanert.

The tournament attracted 90 female anglers aboard 35 boats, who scored with 37 hook-ups and 21 releases. Proceeds from the event were split equally between three local charities.