The Ferebee’s Capture the 29th Annual Swansboro Rotary King Mackerel Bluewater Tournament!

By Don Ewing

Class Boats Take Top Two Spots at Big Event!

Swansboro, North Carolina -  Burt and Margaret Ferebee are definitely one of the best husband and wife teams fishing today! Their big win at the 29th Annual Swansboro Rotary King Mackerel Bluewater Tournament was no fluke. They did their homework, looking for warm water, plus let Roffers Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service help in defining the right area to drop a hook.

“We set up in 120 feet of water fifty-five miles from Swansboro,” explained Margaret. “It was nine fifteen when she ate a menhaden twenty-five feet below the surface. She made a couple of long runs then came to the boat.”

They made it back to the scales at two o’clock and presented the weigh master with the winning 33.10-pound king.

Margaret did the honors to secure her top lady angler honors, which gave her a nice prize but it was Burt, the events top senior angler, who had his hand out as the tournament committee slipped him a first place check for $25,000.

They also accepted another $3404 and $1224 in TWT money.  Burt and Margaret have earned top slots in Divisional competition for many years. They are considered to be at the top of their game in their Class, but in instances like this they dominated all the competition. Who said you have to fish a big boat?

Burt and Margaret fish a 23T Yamaha powered Contender.

Likewise, second place fell to another Class team. Miles Bunn, Pat Renfro, Jim Fisher, and Kenneth Simma scaled a 23.58 at four-thirty, fishing a 23 foot Yamaha powered Ken Craft named Rod Hog.

“We ran thirty miles out of New River Inlet because we thought the spot we fished in this event in 2008 would hold the right water temperature,” Miles told SKA officials. “That put us in 100 feet of water and sure enough she hit a downrigger bait set fifty feet down. I caught the king with the help of Pat on the gaff.”

Miles also informed me that the fish ran out in front of the boat and was in the boat in a scant five minutes.

For their efforts the team took possession of a 2060 Bayrider Skiff complete with a motor and trailer valued at $21,500. They also picked up $2,500 in TWT money.

Third place went to the first open class boat, but not by much. It was a 26 foot Hydra Sports with Evinrude power named Second Mortgage.

Larry McDuffie and Lawrence Bullard ran south of the “Frying Pan Tower” over the Navy Wreck. “This is traditionally a good spot early in the year,” said Larry. “Bait was tough, we just never had enough so we had to substitute dead baits. We caught our 21.16 in 90 feet of water at eleven thirty. Then we picked up and ran two hundred miles back to the scales.”

Third place paid $3075.

Jeff York fished his Yamaha powered Contender, Trick C, into fourth with a 20.76. With Craig Drye, Arthur Hall, Sonny York, and Wesley Ross, they too fished the rocks off the Navy Wreck.

“We’ve caught several fish here last weekend,” Jeff wrote. “This is a good place early in the year. It was one o’clock when the king hit a double pogy rig in the prop wash. Wesley, the newest member of our team, picked up the rod and brought it quickly to Craig’s waiting gaff.”

“You know, we caught small fish all day including some dolphin and even with six to seven foot swells, we had a great time, Jeff added.”

The team won $1845 plus another $4,000 in TWT money.

Mitch Yates and Richard Williams caught an 18.82, which earned them sixth place money, $923 plus nearly $2000 in TWT.  They fish a Yamaha powered Contender.

Oh Yeah’s David Tedder, Brian Shore, and David Godbold scaled a 16.80 to earn seventh place. They too fish a Yamaha powered Contender.

If by now you reached this part of the story, and you’re wondering why such small fish, remember this is the end of May in North Carolina. It takes a lot of work and effort to find any king mackerel. Last year Hot Rod caught a 40 pounder. Tenth place was twenty-two pounds. This year just wasn’t as good but that’s fishing. The money was still excellent!

It was great to see our 1992 National Champions Garland Sewell and Barry Matthews were back in the saddle helping to bring The Right One Baby into ninth. Remember these two along with Jim Davis were paramount in the early days of this event.  To date, the Swansboro club has raised $590,000 since 1985 for college scholarships. Bravo - Bravo - Bravo! Every Rotarian needs to be congratulated!

More SKA members that needs to be recognized are Randall Edens, George Edens, and Cole Edens before we end this story. The 2008 National Champions in Class of 23 earned top Class of 23 in the season opener in Division One. Cole won Top Junior Angler honors picking up where he left off last year. The Yamaha powered Onslow Bay team are capable of winning any event they enter.

While fishing was all right, the big fish are still a few tide changes away. But when you look at the prize money this is one special event! Congrats to all who fished! 

Swansboro Rotary Club Final Standings

Open Class 33.101. SECOND CATCH Contender / Mercury Burt Ferebee Margaret Ferebee 23.582. ROD HOG Ken Craft / Yamaha Miles Bunn Pat Renfro Jim Fisher Kenneth Simma 21.163. 2ND MORTGAGE Hydra Sport / Evinrude Larry McDuffie Lawrence Bullard 20.764. TRICK C Contender / Yamaha Jeff York Craig Drye Arthur Hall Sonny York Wesley Ross 19.525. Release 18.826. SEA RAT Contender / Yamaha Mitch Yates Richard Williams 16.807. OH YEAH Contender / Yamaha David Tedder Brian Shore David Godbold 16.588. ALL IN Cape Horn / Yamaha Ken Strickland Roy Strickland 16.389. THE RIGHT ONE BABY Contender / Yamaha C. Todd Matthews Barry Matthews Chris Waters 16.1610. Miss Sara 15.3611. HOOLIGAN Yellowfin / Yamaha Joe Winslow Dell Williamson 15.2212. FISH MEISTER Yellowfin / Yamaha Dean Spatholt Dennis Watson David Jones 13.7413. REEL BUZZ / BROOKELYNN CIGARS Contender / Yamaha Chip Nifong Brian Schoenwiesner Wes Hege 12.5614. TEAM RAYMARINE Wellcraft / Yamaha John Parks Russell Henderson Russell Henderson Jr. Michael Bryant 12.4815. NATURAL HIGH Contender / Yamaha Keith Braswell Charlie Neal

Class of 23 15.801. EAST COAST SPORTS Onslow Bay / Mercury Randall Edens George Edens Cole Edens Top Lady Angler 33.10Margaret Ferebee SECOND CATCH Top Junior Angler 15.80Cole Edens EAST COAST SPORTS SKA Top Junior Anglers sponsored by Tudor's Insurance Agency & Carroll Construction Inc. 15.801. Cole Edens EAST COAST SPORTS 10.142. Jordan Norris G'S MACHINE 8.323. Josh Davis SEA SPARK Mercury Marine Junior Angler Scholarship Winner Jordan Norris G'S MACHINE