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TEXAS CONTENDERS 49.70 LEADS THE FIELD AT THE 70TH ANNUAL PORT ARANSAS BOATMEN’S DEEP SEA ROUNDUP! by Jack Holmes

PORT ARANSAS, TEXAS. Texas Contender's 49.70 proved to be no match for the other Division 8 participants. Brett Donnahoe, Brian Gaudin and Danny Atchison ran 60 miles to the east and set up in 105 feet of water on day one of the two-day rodeo. "It wasn't that nice green water, it was blue," explained team leader Donnahoe. "We fished there with no bites so we moved to deeper water. At 10:30 she hit a hard tail." The team fished on day two and weighed a nice 56-pound wahoo then waited to see if anyone would take their new 21-foot Yamaha powered Contender, the event’s kingfish division top prize, away from them. It wasn't even close. It also propelled this team to the top of the standings in the open class. They were third in their class at the end of the season last year.
Port Aransas should be the best stop on the schedule because of the closeness of the fish, but this weekend with blue water being reported as close as 14 miles fishing was anything but spectacular. It proved to be a tremendous benefit for the blue water fishermen who had multiple marlin and sailfish releases. Wahoo, tuna and dolphin were also plentiful.
Mike and Cherry Phegley have been regulars on the tour but have enjoyed little success. This weekend it all came together and every angler I talked to were excited for this popular couple. They had a small fish on day one but day two they shined. "It wasn't a tough decision at all," said Mike referring to where they fished on day two. "We ran out the port and stopped at the very first rig. There were lots of bait and pretty green water so it was worth a try. At 9 a.m. she hit." Without a big run to make they were early to the scale and enjoyed a second place 39.40. Mike and Cherry fish a Yamaha powered Solid Power.
Andrew and Ann Hudgins, another popular husband and wife team, secured third with a 34.20. Their Mercury powered Logic carried the team south 23 miles where they set up in 60 feet of water. "We caught over 20 fish the first day," explained Andrew who was the angler on the big fish. "We were in nice green water dragging a turbo rattler laced ribbonfish when she hit late in the day."
Team Notorious picked up fourth with a 34.10. Brian, Brent and James Medearis, Kevin Conway and Keith Traylor fished in blue water. "We had some motor problems which we addressed in the morning then checked out," said Brian. It obviously didn't hurt their performance scaling a 30-pounder on day one. On day two the team bettered their score scaling a 34.10. "We went right back to the same spot the second day and got her on a long line blue runner."
The Mossy Oak team’s 34.50 captured the Class of 23's top slot. David Markham, Eric Schwab, Drew Dean and JoDann Larrison are on a roll this year. With a great sponsor and a wrapped boat, it's obvious to anyone that this good team is out to make a name for themselves, and succeeding. After scaling a 25.9 on day one they went right back out and improved their position. It propelled them right to the top of the Class standings with 72.96 points. Perennial favorites, Mark Holland's Who's Your Daddy picked up 8th this weekend with a 32.80 and Jason Wagon's Team Millennium with a 7th place finish are not written off just yet. Mossy Oak will have their hands full the last two events and will have to work hard to retain their lead. Remember too that the Johnny B has struggled through two events but this is one of the Class team you have to keep your eye on.
Jerry Karnes only scaled one king last year aboard his Team Sponge, but this year he's second in standings thanks to a great 5th place finish and his team’s 34-pounder.
Jerry, Andrew Coker and Greg Thomas who landed the big king chose to fish blue water eventually 18 miles from the inlet. "She hit a ribbonfish trolled 70 feet down with a turbo rattler," said the excited Captain. "We started closer but just kept moving out till we found her." Obviously Jerry and his team have found the formula to scaling good fish.
Only one local boat found their way into the top 8, earning 6th.
The Port Aransas Boatmen's organization that puts on the event dates back to the thirties. It is the oldest group of charter fishermen in Port Aransas, and has been putting on this event, now in it's 70th year, since their inception. They support the summer reading program and gave over $15,000 in scholarships last year. The tournament itself is under the direction on Port Aransas Mayor Georgia Neblett who is an accomplished angler in her own right.
The king mackerel division of the rodeo was sponsored by Ronnie's Marine in Aransas and Corpus Christi. They are the local Contender / Yamaha dealer.
It's different doing a rodeo for us, but I really like them. We get to meet a lot of new people who fish for other species although I've never figured out why. The action is virtually non-stop, from the time the scales open till they close. This event was a good one. Thanks to all who made our visit there so enjoyable.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. TEXAS CONTENDER 49.70
Contender ... Yamaha
Brett Donnahoe
Brian Gaudin
Danny Atchison
2. GOLD IN THE FISH’S MOUTH 39.40
Solid Power ... Yamaha
Mike Paegley
Cherry Phegley
3. CAPTAIN’S PLAYMATE 34.20
Logic ..... Mercury
Andrew Hudgins
Anne Hudgins
4. TEAM NOTORIOUS 34.10
Fountain ... Mercury
Brian Medearis
Brent Medearis
James Medearis
Kevin Conway
Keith Traylor
5. TEAM SPONGE 34.0
Wellcraft ... Johnson
Jerry Karnes
Andrew Coker
Greg Thomas
6. Damm Boat II 33.80
7. MILLENNIUM MARINE 33.40
Pro Cat ... Yamaha
Jason Wagon
Jody Wagon
8. WHO’S YOUR DADDY 32.80
Contender .... Evinrude
Mark Holland
Kelly Holland
Craig Ruika
David Moffett

CLASS OF 23:
1. MOSSY OAK 34.50
McKee Craft .... Evinrude
David Markham
Eric Schwab
Drew Dean
JoDann Larrison