Idle Time Earns Win At Mambo’s

By John Zalud
SKA Staff

Naples, Florida - Division 11 came to an end with the completion of Mambo's fall event in beautiful downtown Naples, Florida. It was a big event for the Nor-Tech sponsored team of Matt Tarrance, Jerry Solovskoy, and Mike Penny, who scaled a nice 37.76 for the win. Nor-Tech has been a sponsor of this event for many years. But the big news came when tournament promoter, Alberto "Mambo" Abad, announced that this was his last event. Mambo is a local architect, and has a wonderful family, who both are taking more of his time. The SKA lost both a spring event and this fall event in D11, which for the time being eliminates this division. However, the big loss was Mambo who for the past several years has produced some of the best events in the country. You have to remember that D11 is not a big Division. Very few of our members come from this area but a lot of fisher people love to come to Naples and fish Mambo's event. It was always first class! On behalf of all the fisher people who loved your event, we thank you "Mambo". You've earned a very special place in our hearts.

Now back to Tarrance's' Idle Time team.  Matt told me, "We made a long run to the north which left us with just two hours to fish but it paid off plus we had the boat and motors to do it!"

The team was fishing in 120 feet of water when at 11:50 the second bait, a long lined blue runner, got hit. "Mike Penny grabbed the rod and in a very short time she came to Jerry who was waiting, gaff in hand," added Matthew. "We saw a barracuda sky on the bait but missed it and immediately our king took the bait."

He wanted to make sure we thanked Mercury and Nor-Tech for producing such good product that gives them an edge.

Seconds 2 Spare with Scott Rush Jr., Gifford Kline, and Rick Dean earned second place with a 34.36. "We fished 62 miles northwest of Naples, off Boca, in eighty-five feet of water," said Rush. "It wasn't till one-thirty when she hit our bait and Gifford went to work. When she got to the boat, I stuck her."

Rush was extremely proud of the team's effort this year. "This was our fourth win and fourth Division win. It was and is very exciting."

Seconds 2 Spare is a Yamaha powered Contender.

Third place fell to Anchor Management; Mercury powered Boston Whaler, with Mark Brosh at the helm. "We come down from New York each year to fish these events and have a ball," said Brosh. "We went forty-five miles west and fished in sixty feet of water. We had a blue runner down forty feet when at one o'clock she hit. I grabbed the rod and a few minutes later Walter put the steel to her."

Fourth place went to Dr. Bill Sullivan and Nick Chickering on the Mercury powered Sea Vee named Smile Maker. "We checked out and unlike other teams we went sixty miles south and fished in sixty-three feet of water," said Sullivan.  "Our king ate a blue runner at nine-thirty. Nick grabbed the rod and within a few minutes we had her in the box. We saw a lot of fish but our 27.16 was the biggest."

In the Small Boat Class, Fin-Addict was the winner.  Tim Packard, Pat Flanary, Deanna Flanary and Richard and Alex Tranchand, fished the Mercury powered Everglades.  

"We went twenty -miles west of Naples and fished in fifty feet of water," said Packard.  "We caught fish but our biggest came at ten-thirty," Tim explained. Tim caught the fish with Alex hoisting her over the gunwale.  "It ate a blue runner on a short line," Tim added. "We stayed close because I just had a good feeling. You know how that goes." The fish tipped the scales at 24.50.

Chase Strelec was the event's Top Junior Angler with his 24.36 while Michelle Jackson earned Top Lady Angler fishing on the Get Snookerd. She scaled a 25.45.

It's a sad part of the SKA's history when we lose a tournament promoter like "Mambo." However, there is a lot of interest in keeping the event moving forward. Especially the spring event. There are several possibilities including Mambo helping the SKA & possibly Nor-Tech produce the event.  Their plant is just up the road in Fort Myers. We'll keep you posted and THANK YOU! Mambo for all you did for the fisher people and their organization. Best of luck to you, and congratulations to all who fished his final event and his other events.

Open Class