It takes more than choppy waters and boat mishaps to stop the Masonboro Inlet Sportfishing Tournament.
Fishing for the tournament was slated to take place April 25 and 26, but a windy forecast called for some last-minute changes.
Rob Tennille, organizer of the tournament, said wind causes rough high seas.
“High seas are rough,” he said. “If there was $100,000 on the line, you might try to tough it out and go that last day. This is for fun. A couple of boats I talked to thought they might get seasick with boats rocking and rolling.”
Tennille also received word that a few interested anglers were held back by boat mishaps, including one who had paid the $500 entry fee but was having a part flown in to participate April 25.
With that in mind, Tennille decided to extend the tournament through April 27, giving anglers an opportunity to fish two out of three days.
Tennille expected as many as 24 boats to participate, but even with the extension, only seven boats participated.
Tennille said he was still pleased with the turnout.
“It’s completely weather-related. It will grow back to where it was. Everything has been very well received. I’m happy with it,” Tennille said.
Friends, family and interested onlookers gathered at Bridge Tender Marina April 27 to welcome the last day’s boats and see the catches.
As it stood Sunday, Tennille was set to win in every category with a 22-pound tuna, 27.5-pound dolphin fish and 38-pound wahoo he caught on The Gamekeeper, a charter led by Captain Ken Upton.
The Pura Vida, led by Captain Jordan Diemer, was the last boat to dock on Sunday evening. Following reports of poor catches from preceding boats, a wahoo, nearly as long as a grown man, was submitted for weigh-in.
At 54 pounds, the fish ousted Tennille’s wahoo and was the biggest fish caught in all three days.
Tennille was far from a sore loser.
“If I hadn’t made it a Sunday open, I would have won my own tournament in every category. But I’d rather have more people involved. I’m glad I did what I did,” Tennille said.
Tennille’s tuna and dolphin fish remained unchallenged.
P.T. Ingle also came in for the win Sunday with a 20-pound dolphin fish, snagging the Junior Angler Award for the 15-year-old.
Jana Fogleman’s 22-pound tuna, also caught on The Gamekeeper, was not beat Sunday. Fogleman won the Lady Angler Award.
The Junior Angler Award and Lady Angler Award were new additions to the 2014 tournament.
The tournament offered a prize for billfish caught and released, but none were caught.
email [email protected]
