(* Denotes a Class of 23 Team)

BEAUFORT SPORTFISHING AND DIVING CLUB KING FLING
BEAUFORT, SC
SEPTEMBER 19-21, 2002
By: John Zalud

Ernie Diloreti, Jim Banks, and Monty Mishoe got together to share information before the Beaufort Sport fishing and Diving Club’s King Fling. It paid off for both Diloreti’s Donna’s Worry, who took first, and Bank’s Bonnie B VII who earned second.

Diloreti and team members Mark Drolshagen, Pete Ferrara, and Ed Coggeshall, ran the Mercury powered Sea Vee south 30 miles from Charleston. “We were fishing in 60 feet of water,” said an excited Diloreti. “It hit a ribbonfish trolled 50 feet down.” The king pushed the scales up to 31.86, enough to capture the win and all the accolades associated with victory. The team, thanks to this king, earned third in the final Division Fourteen standings.

Bank’s Bonnie B VI stuck to the same game plan, running south and setting up in 55 feet of water in the south hole. Banks, Chris Vines, and John Gaeto applied the same methods as Diloreti, setting out ribbons and dragging them down 35 feet. The Bonnie B won this event in 2001 and now repeats with a second place with a 29.46 this year. The team, fishing an Evinrude powered Hydra Sports, finished seventh this year in the Division.

Finishing third was this season’s second place qualifier, Randy Walker of the Bad Habit. With Frankie Denmark, Randon Walker, Peter Maddox, and Bob Hughes onboard, the team could only find small fish on the first day of the event. They needed a 34 pounder to beat out Daddy’s Money for the Division victory. “We ran to Port Royale Sound and sat up in 40 feet of water,” said Walker who runs a 35 foot Yamaha powered Marlin. “It hit a white bait from a long top line.” The king tipped the scales at 28.94. A good fish and a strong second in the Division. Captain Charles Getsinger found a 27 pounder to finish fourth in this year’s tournament. Charles, who fishes a 23 foot Palmetto Custom, earned sixth in the Division, is still doing great in the pros and fishing the only 23 footer in that competition, and earned third in Division Four. A remarkable feat by a great captain!

Rounding out the top five was James Hogg’s Hogg Heaven. Hogg, Joe Hodges, and Ralph Bell make up the Hydra Sports team and bagged a 25.66. The team earned fourteenth place in the Division after the pro’s were removed. John Dunn’s G’s Toy earned sixth with a 25.24 while Mike Kaminsky’s Loose Lucy finished seventh with a 25.24. his wife Susan took Top Lady honors. Damon Dawson’s Double D caught a 24.80 to capture eighth in the tournament but the nice king also propelled the team into fifth in the final Division standings. Knot @ Work won the Class of 23 award on the strength of their 27.86. The team of Robert Olsen and Kelly Whiddon got some good info days before the tournament and parlayed that into a nice finish. They fished in 50 feet of water at the south hole and enticed their king with a double mullet rig. That king also helped Olsen and Whiddon to finish third the the Class of 23 Division 14 standings. Ted Nettles Skervy Dog earned third place Class of 23 with a 23.26.

Final Standings

1. DONNA’S WORRY 31.86 Sea Vee ..... Mercury Ernie Diloreti Mark Drolshagen Pete Ferrara Ed Coggeshall 2. BONNIE B VI 29.46 Hydra Sports ... Evinrude Jim Banks Chris Vines John Gaeto 3. BAD HABIT 28.94 Marlin ... Yamaha Randy Walker Frankie Denmark Randon Walker Peter Maddox Bob Hughes 4. FISHIN’ ADDITION 27.14 Palmetto .... Yamaha Charles Getsinger Tommy Strozzo Daniel Gourley	5. HOGG HEAVEN 25.66 Hydra Sports ... Evinrude Jason Hogg Joe Hodges Ralph Bell 6. G’S TOY 25.24 Mako ,,,,, Mercury John Dunn Don White William Jones Terry Whitstone 7. LOOSE LUCY 24.96 Donzi ... Mercury Mike Kaminsky Kevin Hoffman Susan Kaminsky Doc Martin 8. DOUBLE D 24.80 Mako .... Yamaha Damon Dawson Anthony Dallas Cris Brown 9. Sweet Deal 24.04 10. Special K 23.46
CLASS OF 23 1. KNOT AT WORK 27.86 Sea Pro ... Yamaha Robert Olsen Kelly Whiddon 2. Comocean 24.02 3. SKERVY DOG II 23.26 Sea Ox .... Yamaha Ted Nettles Baron Brodie Bob Watts Janell Nettles
Top Lady Angler: Susan Kaminsky ..... Loose Lucy

 

9th ANNUAL HYDRASPORTS/FISHING FOR MIRACLES
CHARLESTON, SC
AUGUST 15-17, 2002
By: Jack Holmes

We’ve heard it, we’ve seen it so many times. Small boat goes to inlet, small boat catches big fish, small boat earns big payday. It happened again, this time in the Fishing for Miracles tournament in Charleston, South Carolina. To add to the excitement of this scenario, the owner of the boat, Michail Shiver, was fishing in his first tournament. But he had a ringer, accomplished king fisherman, Joel Wood, so it wasn’t all luck. Wood who fishes with Rick Ryan on the King Size is no stranger to the winners circle.

“We hadn’t seen a fish all day,” said Shiver. “Then at three thirty it skied and ate a ribbonfish.”

“I didn’t think it was big enough to win the tournament,” said Wood after the tournament was over. “I guess you could say I rode on a beginner’s back.” The team won close to $40,000 thanks to Wood getting them into everything they could enter. Wood will probably put his share right back into his passion, Shiver on the other hand said he really needed the money, he was going through a divorce.Terry Grantham’s My Three Sons didn’t do too well on the first day and had to change game plans. Teammate Ron Enslen got on the horn and found that a friend had caught fish north of Georgetown. “He said they were biting like bulldogs,” Ron said after the team of David Baker and Joel Coker had weighed their 36.69 second place fish. They ran from Charleston to Georgetown and set up on the tideline, fishing in 40 feet of water. “The big king ate a ribbonfish set at 19 feet down,” said the Captain, Terry Grantham. “We put out baits at 8:20 and at 8:30 we had her on. We were ready to come back to the scales at 9.” My Three Sons is a 38’ Fountain with triple Mercury Outboards. They will qualify in this division however they are doing real good in the pros.

Ernie Diloreti just missed third place by .06 of a pound. He had second wrapped up till Grantham came in, but being the true sportsman he is, took it all in stride. “Look that’s fishing,” he told me. “Sometimes it works in your favor, sometimes it don’t.” Regardless, the team of Mark Drolshagen and Scott Flanders still partied for their success. Scott caught the team’s fish at 3 o’clock on day one right on the beach. “We weren't any deeper than 25 feet,” said Diloreti. “It hit a ribbonfish.” One thing’s for sure, it didn’t hurt their Divisional standings to add a 36. Reelin was one of only three big boats that weighed fish and they had a beauty, a 36.52. Just .11 out of third and less than two tenths of a pound from second. That’s tight fishing! Marc Pincus, Greg Pyle, and Pat Kraft know how to do it. Solid Surface, a Mercury powered Palmetto, earned seventh with a 32.44. Andy Nettles and Ben Albrecth moved into fourth place in Division 14 with 83.21 points and, if history means anything, this high powered team will be in Biloxi. At the end of the tournament Gary Smith’s Daddy’s Money found itself in the lead with 105.64 points

.Miss Jenn III, a Class of 23 boat, will make the trip also thanks to their eighth place finish here. Ron Green,Roy McGinnis and Mario Difelice scaled a 32 pounder.

Steven Berlin needed the ninth place fish his team bagged, a 31.51, aboard the Suits Me. He’ll have to weigh another fish in the final tournament, but if he does, he’ll finish in the top 10. It’s a tight race in the Class of 23. Rounding out the top 10 was the Triple Gobble, a 23 foot Hydra Sports. The Weathers team, Jeff, Greg, and Bob have a 101.78 three fish agg to lead the Division 14 Class of 23 leader board. I just don’t see them getting knocked down. Victory is eminent.

Alex Leva brought the new 33’ Hydra Sports to the tournament for Larry Fowler to fish. They caught a king in the 29 pound range and all reports were extreemly positive. This boat will be a winner.

The Fishing for Miracles tournament is a winner. They do all the right things thanks to a large volunteer staff and lots of hard work. This tournament, its location should continue to grow. They knocked on 300 boats this year, surpassing last year’s total entries. This is a must fish event for all fishermen who really want to have a great time.

Final Standings

1. CHANNEL SURFER 39.69 Boston Whaler ... Evinrude Joel Wood Michail Shiver 2. MY THREE SONS 36.69 Fountain ... Mercury Terry Grantham David Baker Ron Enslen Joel Coker 3. DONNA’S WORRY 36.63 Sea Vee ... Mercury Ernie Diloreti Mark Drolshagen Scott Flanders 4. REELIN 36.52 Viking .... Caterpillar Marc Pincus Gregg Plye Pat Kraft 5. Phat Cat 33.46 6. Slip N Slide 33.36 7. SOLID SURFACE 32.44 Palmetto .... Mercury Andy Nettles Ben Albrecth 8. MISS JENN III 32.02 Contender ... Ron Green Roy McGinnis Mario Difelice 9. SUITS ME 31.51 Triton ... Yamaha Steve Berlin Clinton Chamniss Cam Benedict 10. TRIPLE GOBLE 31.47 Hydra Sports .... Johnson Jeff Weathers Greg Weathers Bob Weathers	11. Capt. Jack 30.88 12. TEAM HYDRA SPORTS 29.87 Hydra Sports .... Yamaha Larry Flowler Earl Blake Alex Leva 13. FISH DIGGER 28.88 Contender ... Yamaha David Hartness Frankie Marion Brent Ballard 14. Bowed Up 28.66 15. Wail It 28.57 16. TEAM WINNERS WORLD 27.84 Fountain .... Evinrude Ralph Turner Michael Smith 17. TAILWALKER 27.02 Contender ... Yamaha Stuart Ballard Frank Clemons Don Musman Philip Lachicoffe 18. Redfin 26.60 19. DOUBLE D 26.23 Mako .... Yamaha Damon Dawson Jon Kohler Wally Laurimore Anthony Dallas 20. REEL YOUNG 26.03 Contender .... Yamaha Freddie Travis Rick Ryan Ronald Crowe Walter Warren
CLASS OF 23  1. CHANNEL SURFER 39.69 2. MISS JENN III 32.02 3. SUITS ME 31.51
Top Lady Angler: Marlene Augusti Omega 3 26.00

 

HANCKEL MARINE KINGFISH CLASSIC
CHARLESTON, SC
JUNE 28-30, 2002
By: Andrew Winburn

Greg, Jeff, and Bob Weathers from Triple Gobble are on a mission to make the Nationals in Biloxi in November, and at 9 AM on Friday they moved a step closer. Their twenty-three foot Johnson powered Hydra Sport was in the right place at the right time as they landed a 39 pound kingfish that gave them a fist place victory at the 2nd annual Hanckel Marine Kingfish Classic.

Although this is their first win of the year, a third place finish with a 26.6 at Rumph Brothers puts them in the catbird seat for Division 14. Captain Jeff Weathers took the team south of Charleston, where they fished in about 50 feet of water. They happened to stumble across this fishing hole one day, and it paid off as their only bite of the day was hooked with a pinfish on a top line from this spot. "It made a 350 yard run at first then went deep," said Greg. They had a good look at her after 30 minutes and Greg said, "I knew it was a big fish." The gaff finished the fight the third time she came to the top. Although the crew was a little disappointed that the king did not reach the 40 pound mark they are more than pleased with the win and the pocket full of money. The final half hour of official tournament time brought in enough boats to make the Triple Gobble crew a bit nervous, but they loosened up as the last boat weighed in, and with a smile on their
face, thanked their wives for letting them fish.

"We were going somewhere else and stopped short," said Julian Weston. The Down the Line ended up fishing a forty foot live bottom south of Charleston by the jetties on the second day and brought in the second place fish, a 36.63. Julian, in a 23 foot Wellcraft, caught the fish around 9 AM. The king hit a pogie and immediately tangled two lines as it headed for freedom. One line was cut but their rods were a mess before the 300 yard run was finished. After 20 minutes they had the fish in the boat and knew it was bigger than the 27 pounder they had caught previously. Down the Line fished the Nationals in Morehead last year and are trying to make it two in a row this year. They took 9th place at Rumph Brothers, giving them reason to continue fishing Division 14.

Both of the first two boats were Class of 23 boats proving once again that the fish don't know what size boat you're fishing out of. With reasonable sea conditions the Class of 23 boats work as well as the bigger boats. Bonnie B VI was very fortunate to bring in the third place fish on day one. John Gaeto caught the fish and said, "A lot of stuff could have gone wrong." Bonnie B VI also took third place at Hanckel last year with a 33.93. Captain Chris Vines, in the place of regular Captain Jim Banks, took the boat down near Edisto and anchored up chumming in about 35 feet of water. That's where the 34.57 king hit the line around noon. She was joined by 2 other fish leaving the crew with three lines going off at the same time. Chris and John had rods in each of their hands and knew that the one John had was bigger. Fifteen minutes later she was in the boat, and they were done fishing for the day. The crew thanked Donna's Worry for help with finding bait for their repeat at third place. Bonnie B VI won Division 14 last year and had a learning experience at the Nationals. Hopefully they will be back again this year with their experience paying off.

Randy Walker's Bad Habbit earned fourth place honors with a nice 33.81 while John Dunn Jr's Mako, the G's Toy, rounded out your top five with a 33.65 Milo Hanckel did a tremendous job with the Hanckel Marine Kingfish Classic. There was a steady flow of boats coming to the dock, and an enthusiastic crowd of children and families awaited each group of fishers. Division 14 should have a great finish with only three tournaments to go.

Final Standings

1. TRIPLE GOBBLE 39.53 Hydra Sports .... Johnson Jeff Weathers Greg Weathers Bob Weathers 2. DOWN THE LINE 36.63 Wellcraft ...... Suzuki Julian Weston Ed Claytor Bruce Schwartz 3. BONNIE B VI 34.57 Hydra Sports ... Evinrude Jim Banks Chris Vines John Gaeto 4. BAD HABIT 33.81 Marlin ... Yamaha Randy Walker Frank Denmark Peter Maddock Bob Hughes Brandon Walker II 5. G's TOY 33.65 Mako ... Mercury John Dunn Jr. Don White Billy Jones

6. FISH DIGGER 31.12 Contender ... Yamaha David Hartness 7. BITTA SWEET 29.74 Contender ... Yamaha Jerry Tumbleston Michelle Tumbleston Ronnie Broache 8. MAC ATTACK 29.54 Luhrs ...Crusaders Brian McCoy Keith Amerman Brandon McCoy Cindy Amerman Noel Beatty 9. DADDY'S MONEY 29.29 Wellcraft ... Yamaha Gary Smith Ellis Hamm Nick Russell Johnny Smith 10. KNOT WORK 28.99 Sea Pro ... Yamaha Robert Olsen Kelly Whiddon Kelly Hobgood

 

14TH ANNUAL RUMPH BROTHERS KMT
CHARLESTON, SC
MAY 9-11, 2002
By: Mike Rumph & Chris Vines

In the 13th Annual 2001 Rumph Brothers Marine King Mackerel Tournament, the father and son team of David Yates Sr. and Jr. broke the existing South Carolina SKA state record of 46.54 lbs. with a 47.03 lb. Smoker. They were, however, disqualified on a technicality, one of them forgot to sign up with the SKA officials and pay their $10 registration fee.

This year, Capt. Gary Smith and crewmembers Ellis Hamm and Nick Russell didn't make the same mistake. After coming up short on day 1, they set their sights on Saturday's competition. With a "sorry assortment of live bait," they headed east into the shipping channel. They were rewarded quickly with a good strike at 8:00 am on top that produced a scorching run and almost spooled Smith's 20 lb. Penn outfit. A frenzied chase ensued, and when the big fish came up beside the boat, Hamm made short work of the gaffing duties with a solid shot right through the eye.

The cell phones and VHF buzzed with excitement, and it didn't take long for the rumor of a 50 lb. King to make it onto the Charleston Harbor Hilton Marina and the weigh-in crew. When Smith's Yamaha powered Scarab, Daddy's Money, entered the marina, he was visibly excited, and when the King topped the scales at 49.6 lbs, congratulations and high fives abounded.

During an interview with SKA representatives Don Ewing and Bobby Martin, Smith disclosed that they had hooked their fish about 6 miles from the Jetties. Smith told them that they had been looking for that fish for about 15 years. It was a great fish!¦ Daddy's Money received a 21' Southern Skimmer with a 90 hp Suzuki Four Stroke and Load Rite trailer as first place prize for their efforts. On top of that, Ewing informed them that they would also receive a Mercury powered 22' ProLine and Loadmaster trailer for setting a new SKA record.

The first day of competition brought 17 fish to the scales, led by David Swanson on the Capt. Jack with a 38.2, followed closely by Scott McInery on the Gotta Luv It with a 33.6, and Trey Moss on the Robcy with a 30.8. The weather got better on Saturday and Spencer Carnes on his 22' Key West, Finickey, burst into second with a 40.2-pound King. David Swanson had a close scare as Frankie Denmark on the Bad Habit came in fourth with an identical 38.2, Gotta Luv It remained in 5th and Robcy in 6th, while Kayla Montgomery on the Windsor Ann scaled a 28.2 for 7th place and Youth Angler. 8th place went to Greg Weathers on the Triple Gobble with a 26.6, 9th place was Daniel Gourley on the Fishin' Addition with a 24.4, 10th was Will Sneed on the South Bound with a 22.6, 11th was Ronnie Broach on the Bitta Sweet
with a 22.6, 12th was Billy Glenn on the Lure Me with a 21.6 which was also good for the CCA Award, 13th was John Mears on the Shady II with a 21.2, 14th was Matt Sjostrom on the Work Release with a 20.4, and rounding out 15th was
Jamey Stuart on the Black Jack with a 20.2. The Lady Angler award went to Cheryl Mathis on the Bounty Hunter with a 16.0.

This year's event was a huge success, and a special thanks goes out to all the volunteers and sponsors who helped make it possible, especially Buck'N Bass, the Charleston Harbor Hilton Marina, and Henry J. Lee Distributors. A field of 86 boats and anglers participated, and weighed 31 fish from 12.2 lbs to a whopping 49.6 lbs. This was the second tournament in the South Carolina Governor's Cup King Mackerel Series, as well as part of the Southern Kingfish
Association's Division 14, and the US Anglers Association.

Final Standings

1. DADDY'S MONEY . . . . . . . . . . .49.60 Wellcraft ..... Yamaha Gary Smith Ellis Hamm Nick Russel 2. FINICKY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.20 Key West .... Johnson Spencer Carnes Matthew Carnes 3. Capt. Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38.20 4. BAD HABIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38.20 Marlin ..... Yamaha Randy Walker Peter Maddock Bob Hughes Frankie Denmark Randy Walker Jr. 5. GOTTA LUV IT . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33.60 Contender .... Yamaha Bob Whitte

6. ROBCY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30.80 Sea Vee .... Yanmar Wilbert Roller Michael Roller Gregg Brown Ray Moss III 7. WINDSOR ANN . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.20 Kenner .... Evinrude Matthew Montgomery H.C.Robinson Jason Watkins Kayla montgomery 8. TRIPLE GOBBLE . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.60 Hydra Sports ..... Johnson Jeff Weathers Greg Weathers Bob Weathers 9. FISHIN ADDITION . . . . . . . . . . . 24.40 Palmetto .... Yamaha Charles Getsinger Sheri Getsinger Daniel Gourley 10. South Bound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.60