SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. Three tournaments in Division 5 and SKA anglers fail to take home the top prizes. That’s a lot of money to leave on the table. It happened again in the final event of the season in northeast Florida. Two boats, one who didn’t check out till 8 a.m., then ran a mile and a half offshore found a 42.10 to win the Ancient City’s Gamefish Association’s Kingfish Challenge. The second place team, who held the top slot after day one found their fish after plucking two adults from the water after their boat capsized at the Red Tops. Maybe the man upstairs was repaying the kindness.
Holding up the association was Charles McGarity and Wayne Scarbourgh who scaled a 40.15 on day one to earn third. “This is my first year fishing the trail,” said McGarity. “Wayne has really helped us, he is such a good fisherman.” When asked about where they caught their fish Wayne responded, “Over the years the Red Tops in August have always been good. We used a ribbon on the downrigger to get her to bite.” The nice king was caught in 38 feet of water at 11 o’clock. “We gave the fish gods 40 cents and look what he gave us, a forty-pounder,” Scarbourgh added. The team, which fishes a Mercury powered Sport Craft, went from 26th place to second in the Class of 23’ Division. McGarity said, “We really worked hard this year and it paid off.”
Another Class of 23’ competitor, Mike McRae’s Dr. Hook earned fourth with yet another 40-pounder, a 40.15. They too get to go to Biloxi coming from 32nd place to finish seventh in the Division. “We fished off of Marineland, south of St. Augustine in 52 feet of water,” explained McRae who fishes with Mal Hensen who caught the big girl. “We caught fresh ribbonfish on Friday night and I think it made a difference. We needed a good fish, worked hard, and got it.”
Do you start to see the pattern? Big fish being caught close to the tournament site in Class boats. Do you think a lot of teams are running over the fish trying to find good water, or at least what they perceive to be good water?
We lost the leaderboard’s fifth place to another non-member.
Matt Henderson and Ty Smith fish a 23’ Sailfish named the Sweet Maria and indicated before the season started they wanted to fish the Open Division. They earned seventh in the Division and caught a 39.15 in this event on the first day to make that happen. “We were there at the Red Tops fishing 40 feet of water,” said a very proud Matt Henderson. “There were a few boats fishing the area but the big fish on day one came from the same spot so we were right. She hit a pogy trolled 10 feet below the surface at 12:15.”
Rick Henley had a good season fishing with his dad on the Stock Options, a 25’ Mercury powered Fountain the duo won ten years ago in St. Augustine fishing the Kingbuster tournament. “It’s funny because we fished the same spot we fished ten years ago in Matansas and caught that 50-pounder,” said Rick who also fishes with Randy Crabtree’s Vamoose in the Pro Division. Their 38.65 was good for seventh place. “We caught her with a pogy on the surface,” Rick added.
This year’s event was scheduled for July 8th thru 10th but because of horrific weather was postponed to the first weekend in August. Not only was it the right decision, but also the make-up weekend proved to offer ideal conditions and good fish from Matansas to Jacksonville. It was the biggest event ever for the popular fishing club, 259 boats and really shook up the final standings for all the National hopefuls.
The Sea Bones team ran their Hydra Sport into eighth with a nice 38.55. The Pujadas family, William, William Jr., Kaysee and Korree was the first to weigh their king beating out Vincent Serrano’s Vanisea who also weighed a 38.55. He was ninth capping off a good season.
Rounding out the top ten was Tim Sisler’s Reel Phetish II who weighed a 38.15.
It took a 31-pound king to make it into the top 30, which is really strong.

1.   Worth Chasen .....................  42.10

2.   Wild Thang .......................  40.50

3.   CAYJEN CON .......................  40.15
SportCraft ... Mercury
Charles McGarity
Wayne Scarbourgh Jr.

4.   DR. HOOK .........................  40.05
Cape Horn ... Mercury
Mike McRae
Mal Hensen

5.   Marker 5 .........................  39.80

6.   SWEET MARIA ......................  39.15
Sailfish ... Yamaha
Matt Henderson
Ty Smith

7.   STOCK OPTIONS ....................  38.65
Fountain ... Mercury
Rick Henley
Tommy Smith

8.   SEA BONES ........................  38.55
Hydra Sports ... Yamaha
William Pujadas
William Pujadas Jr.
Kaysee Pujadas
Korree Pujadas

9.   VANISEA  .........................  38.55
Hydra Sports ... Yamaha
Vincent Serrano
Bruce Hall
Chris Calinski

10. REEL PHETISH II ...................  38.15
Hydra Sports ... Yamaha
Tim Sisler
Ryan Keith
Ray Forbess

11. FOUL HOOKER .......................  36.95
Yellowfin ... Mercury
Richard Iwanicki
David Tennyson
Cheyenne Pacetti
Keadie Higginbotham

12. BAD COMPANY .......................  36.80
Fountain ... Yamaha
Lewis Rogers
Paul Brooks
John Rogers

13. REEL QUICK ........................  36.55
Donzi ... Mercury
Jerry Carter
Jeremy Carter
Jim Thomas

14. REEL LUCK .........................  36.55
Wellcraft ... Mercury
Chris Lavelle

15. Medication ........................  36.15

16. Prowler ...........................  35.65

17. OUTRAGEOUS ........................  35.25
Yellowfin ... Mercury
Paul Massey
Travis Massey

18. CHASER ............................  34.40
Boston Whaler ... Mercury
Tim Price

19. SNATCH UM .........................  34.10
Contender ... Mercury
Tyler Patterson
Billy Patterson
Ben Patterson

20. TURN 3 ............................  33.70
Contender ... Yamaha
Geoff Stam