(* Denotes a Class of 23 Team)

POINTS RACE HEATS UP AT TAILWALKER
By Sam White
August 15, 2001

GEORGETOWN, SC--While the pro teams dominated the top half of the standings for the Tailwalker King Sting tournament, the divisional teams also made a very respectable showing for themselves during the weekend. A full moon seemed to have put the kings out of a feeding mood for most of the weekend but some very good fish were still landed during the tournament. Also, keep in mind that many of the pros that did well for themselves were from the South Carolina area, like Buddy Hucks' Mean C and Chuck Permenter and Patrick Bellamy on Mining My Bidness. Harry Evans' Southern Saltwater team would wind up as the highest finishing non-pro boat at the Tailwalker. Evans is fishing a new Mercury-powered Triton 27 this season, and is currently in sixth place in the points standings with just two fish. The team's 29.95 at Tailwalker added to their previous score of 32.82. That fish was good for second place in the Frantic Atlantic Summer Fun Classic, held earlier this season. With a total score of 60.16 pounds and only two fish to the team's credit, Evans and company just need one more decent fish to ensure a spot to the SKA National Championship later this season in Fort Pierce, Florida.

In the absence of team captain Tripp Jackson, Landy Blackwell took the helm of the Pocket Broke, a Yamaha-powered Contender, during the Tailwalker tournament. Blackwell and teammates Jeff Newcomb and Richard Boone placed eighth with a 29.67 in the tournament. They also picked up an extra $500 from the tournament since they landed the largest Spanish mackerel, which they nearly forgot to weigh in the excitement. They only have that one kingfish to their credit, so they have their work cut out for them during the last event for the division later in the season. Ninth place fell to Gene Seiveno and the crew aboard the Carolina Cocky, another Yamaha-powered Contender. Seiveno won the first event of the division this season for Division Three, and is currently in the driver's seat for the division. Seiveno added 29.60 points to the team's total, giving them 69.8 pounds with just two fish on their side of the ledger. One more good king and the Carolina Cocky could top the divisional standings and wind up with a free entry into the Nationals, along with a free hotel room for the three days of the tournament.

The real story of the Tailwalker King Sting, however, belongs to the Susan Elizabeth team of Mark Hamner and his junior angler Ben. The persistent pair won the Class of 23 last year during the SC Outdoors Mack Attack tournament, and returned this season looking for success during the Tailwalker. They fished close to home in their 17-foot Parker and returned to the scales with a 29.30 pound king. Their secret? Fish areas that hold bait, and keep the lines in the water for as long as possible during the day. It's a good lesson for anyone convinced that they must burn every last gallon of fuel in their tanks during a tournament. Ben Hamner also topped the SKA's Junior Angler standings for the event. All this from a 17-foot boat without a T-top and limited range.

As always, Stuart Ballard and his son Brent did an outstanding job with the tournament, from the free meals to the entertainment each day of the three day event. The Tailwalker King Sting continues to be one of the most enjoyable weekends of the summer, so if you've never fished this tournament, make plans now for next year--it's really one you don't want to miss.

Final Standings
(Second Place is an Aggregate Award)

1. THE CHASE.............36.51 Donzi/Mercury Chris Chase Jan Chase Stan Chase Rob Dunagan Chip Underwood 2. MEAN C................34.57 + 23.2 = 57.77 Contender/Yamaha Buddy Hucks Field Hucks Eddie Cameron 3. MINING MY BIDNESS................31.09 Donzi/Mercury Chuck Permenter Patrick Bellamy Kevin Moore 4. WILD INJUN.................31.01 Donzi/Mercury Roy Byrd Bear Croft Ted Berkstresser 5. OUT TO LUNCH..............30.96 Contender/Yamaha Paul Hanson Matt Matheson Shannon Armstrong

6. SOUTHERN SALTWATER...........29.95 Triton/Mercury Harry Evans Ricky Prossor Earl Hutchinson Andy Baldwin Webber Smith 7. FOUNTAIN VENGEANCE................29.89 Fountain/Mercury Clayton Kirby Rick Stoker LeAnn Stoker 8. POCKET BROKE.................29.67 Contender/Yamaha Landy Blackwell Richard Boone Jeff Newcomb 9. CAROLINA COCKY............29.60 Contender/Yamaha Gene Seiveno Mike Watson Ed Burnette Lathan Rodney Thomas Johnson 10. C&H LURES....................29.54 Donzi/Mercury Dave Workman, Jr. Wendell Nolan

TOP SKA CLASS OF 23 SUSAN ELIZABETH..................29.30 -Parker 17/Johnson, Mark Hamner, Ben Hamner (Jr. Angler)

 

'Lightline' Pulls In The Win at The Frantic Atlantic Spring King Classic
Myrtle Beach, SC
Steve Baker, Carolinas Field Editor
May 21, 2001

This year's Spring Frantic Atlantic tournament gave new meaning to the term "hawg" in more ways than one. Upon arrival at the tournament headquarters at Frantic Atlantic Island, the parking lot looked more like a Harley-Davidson convention than a fishing tournament. But well before the official check in, the well-behaved bikers obliged and departed from the area just before the fleet began to roll in. After all, they had already seen the biggest fish that would be weighed that day.

Although the scales did not officially open until 3 p.m., nothing says you have to keep fishing until then. Apparently, 'Lightline' didn't think so either. Arriving at the docks some hour and a half early, Jim McSwain and crew knew they would have a long wait but were confident it would pay off.

When the scales did open, McSwain quickly proceeded to the weighmaster with their king safely iced down in a well-used fishbag. The official weight of 40.10 pounds would be enough to secure the top spot for the Yamaha-powered Century team. Teammate Ronnie Fulford reported that the team ran over sixty miles to the Navy wreck off Southport to locate the winning fish. Captain Jim related, "Bait was real scarce, so we stopped midway to jig up greenies and cigar minnows." McSwain also credited his teammates Marty Fulford and Keith McSwain, who did not fish this event, but were gracious enough to secure a few live bluefish the night before. This would ultimately mean the difference between success and failure. The smoker kingfish nailed a topline bluefish early in the day around 10:30 AM. Lady Angler Karen McSwain made quick work of bringing the fish to gaff, giving the team plenty of time to make a leisurely run back to the docks in South Carolina.

The second place King Size team was also second to the docks during the weigh-in. Rick Ryan weighed in early as well, securing second place with a 37.64 pound kingfish for the Yamaha-powered Contender team. Although the fish were similar in size, over 200 miles separated their locations. Rick and teammates Joel Wood and Bruce Gallup chose to run 100 miles to the south to fish a popular spot off Georgetown. Although they reported similar problems locating bait, they were able to locate enough menhaden to make the long run worthwhile. Their fish inhaled a naked pogy fished deep on the downrigger.

Tournament Director Larry Fowler has always fished his own tournament, and this year Lady Luck smiled on Fowler and the Heather Renee team of Dennis Stark and Earl Blake. They fished an undisclosed location, boating a 30.40 pound kingfish for third place overall. Fowler's fish would also be the last of the fish over 30 pounds weighed in during the tournament.

Relatively calm seas with a light surface chop made the tournament comfortable for the Class of 23 boats as well. Walter Giese, Ken Johnson, and John Stucky put the Mercury-powered Aquasport Miss Mercy in the top spot in the Class with a 20.66 pound kingfish.

Kyle Hughes was the event's Top Junior Angler on the Outta Line, and Sally Edens won the tournament's Top Lady Angler award on the Reel Greedy.

The next tournament in Division Three will be the HydraSports Frantic Atlantic Summer Fun Classic, to be held May 31st-June 1st. For more information, contact Larry Fowler at 843-249-7881.

Final Standings

Place	Team	Captain	Weight
Overall
1	Lightline	Jim McSwain	40.10
2	King Size	Rick Ryan	37.64
3	Heather Renee	Larry Fowler	30.40
4	My Turn	Steve Venable	25.68
5	Tailwalker	Stuart Ballard	24.80
6	My Boat	Derrick Blanton	23.54
7	Winners World	Ralph Turner	20.42
8	High Voltage	Bill Dunaway	19.66
9	Reel Pleasure	Rob Goff	19.44
10	Got-Tu	Randy Smith	18.44
23 and Under
1	Miss Mercy	Walter Giese	20.66
2	Joviality	Loyd Westan	15.58
3	Carolina Adventure	Jerry Dilsaver	15.18
Lady Angler	Reel Greedy	Sally Edens	17.56
Junior Angler	Outta Line	Kyle Hughes	16.72