A DOZEN 40s WEIGHED IN FORT PIERCE; KELLIE ANN AFTER D-10 REEL WON, R-RATED WITHIN REACH
By Ed Killer
For Angler Magazine

FORT PIERCE – When Kellie Ann’s Jack Thomas thinks of tournament kingfishing in Fort Pierce, he has mixed feelings – and understandably so.
Not long after the shotgun start for the 2004 Yellowfin Boats / Mercury Outboards Fort Pierce Kingfish Classic, Thomas began feeling chest pains. Over the course of the weekend, Thomas and team continued to fish and even weighed a 27-pound king, but during a follow-up visit to the doctor, learned his discomfort wasn’t trapped gas, but was an angina attack. Two weeks later, Thomas underwent open-heart surgery which virtually ended Kellie Ann’s season of competition.
This year, Thomas, son Jack E., and Treasure Coast teammate and host R.J. Hamilton rebounded by finding a pair of 40-plus-pound kings in Fort Pierce waters, including the tournament’s third place fish at 47.14 pounds. Thanks to the 60.10 hawg that won this year’s Hog’s Breath Saloon event in January, Kellie Ann is steering towards a Division 10 crown with 107.51 pounds in two catches. Although Kellie Ann, a Yamaha-powered 27-foot Conch, is based out of Fort Myers and was introduced to tournament kings through Division 11 beginning in 2001, an 18-pound lead over their nearest challengers may have the Thomas' circling more Southeast Florida dates as the season continues.
“You know, odd years seem to be our years,” said Thomas. “We came in fourth in D-11 in 2003, but we struggled in 2002 and 2004. We have some conflicts with some of the D-10 dates, but we’re going to see what we can work out.”
The 2005 Yellowfin Boats / Mercury Outboards Fort Pierce Kingfish Classic entertained 172 entries who enjoyed good fishing and good sea conditions just one week after an SKA-event in Fort Lauderdale was postponed due to a forecast of 15-foot open ocean swell. The ground swell did manage to muck up the local live bait supply and kept the kings towards the southern end of the reach some 60-70 miles away from Fort Pierce inlet in waters off Palm Beach.
“We caught our fish in a spot just off the Jupiter Inlet in 80 feet of water both days,” said the younger Thomas. “We thought it might have been over 50 – big enough to win the event – but we can’t be disappointed.”
Top boat among the crowd was the Fort Pierce-anchored all-star team of Gator Bait / Gemlux. Fort Pierce locals Sandy Smith and Anthony Guettler have combined forces with Jacksonville’s Matt Bridgewater and Yellowfin builder Wylie Nagler of Sarasota for the 2005 Yamaha Professional Tour. The net result was an opening day 49.32-pound slab that collected $30,000. Smith and crew were another team with mixed feelings after being unable to match the great opening fish with any fish whatsoever on day two to come up empty-handed in the pro category. According to Smith, D-10 loyals will not see much of this crew this season, but pro anglers should watch out as Smith tries to capture that ever-elusive Angler of the Year title.
Final Strike’s Terry Johnson, Chris Johnson, Clyde Keen, Dave Reddick, and Jake Fulmer hung a 49.27-pounder that took a hardtail for second overall. The Jacksonville fishermen earned D-10 points, but will stick to the pros as well as divisions closer to home.
Big gainers in the division’s second event of five were The Reel Won whose modest 34.55-pounder gives them 89.32 pounds overall to stand second in the division. Additionally, Reel Won’s Susan and Bob Woithe trail the elder Thomas by the same margin in the senior angler category. The Woithe clan fishes a Yamaha-powered 36-foot Contender.
R-Rated, a Century/Yamaha combo captained by Rembrandt Gray, located a 29.29 king to stand third in the division with 87.4 pounds while In the Rough’s David Van Lent cannot be overlooked after scoring one of the tournament’s twelve 40-pounders and sits with 82.99 pounds.
While the tournament’s general leader board was dominated by pro fishermen who are not competing in the division this year, several other boats who are shooting for the title include Jerry Stephenson’s Digestible with 75.82 pounds now, and Kevin Hannon’s Hannon’s Cannon (72.09) who virtually gave up D-6 and will not fish pro hoping to qualify for nationals with a couple more quality fish in D-10.
Despite the relatively strong leader board in Fort Pierce, the full moon and the previous ground swell challenged anglers who are familiar with this fishery. As a result, many 20- to 30-pound kings were weighed by D-10 competitors who have high 30s and 40s on their resumes from the Hog’s Breath event. With a couple of good fish in upcoming events, the D-10 standings could shake up quite a bit if some of the Fort Pierce fish become drop fish.
In the Class of 23, No Limits with Grant Cloughley found a 28.53-pounder to lead the D-10 class with 71.44 pounds. Bill Senecal’s Knot Home is in there with 66.97 pounds while Frank Abbate’s Reel Runner is third with 57.83 pounds. Relative newcomer Gary Faircloth aboard Let’s Roll has 53.34 pounds but will be fishing home waters when Stuart’s Kingfish Brawl fishes and hopes to make a move.
The SKA D-10 fleet will reconvene in Fort Lauderdale for what is now scheduled to be a one-day tournament at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Kingfish Classic May 6-7. Following that event, Jim Scharfschwerdt will host the second annual Stuart Kingfish Brawl out of Stuart, Fla. May 13-15. Barring any more weather-caused schedule changes, Keith McCullar’s Canaveral Mac Attack will cap the D-10 season May 27-29. Find out more by logging on to www.canaveralmacattack.com.
Once again, the community of Fort Pierce played the role of gracious host to the SKA welcoming back an old friend. After experiencing 21-hours of eye wall winds from Hurricane Frances and Jeanne’s eye wall as well three weeks later, the Fort Pierce Municipal Marina provided half the dockage it usually has which sent anglers searching for moorings. The Radisson hotel has also been closed permanently to make way for a condominium creating a challenge for hotel room seekers.
But Fort Pierce Mayor Bob Benton – an SKA member and competitor (BG Nole in the Class of 23) – happily welcomed the return of the SKA teams and is working very hard to develop infrastructure necessary to comfortably host future SKA events.