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THE FLYING BUTTON’S TWO FISH AGGREGATE OF 51.16 POINTS WINS THE FINAL PRO TOUR EVENT IN ATLANTIC BEACH, NORTH CAROLINA!

by Jack Holmes

Jose “Manny” Bethencourt and his team of William Shaver and Allen Stevens scaled a 26.56 and 24.60 to win the final leg of the Yamaha Professional Kingfish Tour and collect the $40,000 top prize. His Mercury powered Donzi named The Flying Button from Jacksonville, Florida, fished within ten miles of the Atlantic Beach, North Carolina inlet. “We’ve had shots in other events this season but loosing fish at the boat cost us other trips to the stage this season,” said the proud winner. “This is a good team but lady luck had not been good to us until now.”

Manny was one of the first teams to weigh in at Seawater Marina on day two. He then sat on the television camera stand checking each boat bringing fish to the scale. One by one he checked them off until his patience ran out and he had to go down to the dock for the last few remaining boats. At about 5:40 I announced that John Lewis was at the scale and he wasn’t fishing the Pros, weighed his fish, then proclaimed Manny the big winner much to his delight.

The Button team had a total of 169 points this season, well off the pace, but still better than half the field. They hurt themselves bad in the season opener in Fort Pierce scaling two teenagers, then it seemed they got on track. That happens with a first year team, but I assure you it won’t happen next year. They found the way to win and that confidence level could just propel them to the top next season.

St. Augustine, Florida’s Scott Dennis and his Strait Shot team picked up second place money with a 26.46 and a 24.02. By now you’re probably thinking, where’s the big fish? This area should be producing bigger fish than this and you are right. But you can thank Hurricane Ophelia who brushed the Carolina coastline two weeks earlier. These Pros had to work hard for everything they got. Dennis and his Jacksonville, Florida team of William Shaver and Allen Stevens ended the season with 189.98 points and twenty-seventh place. They earned eighth in the opening event in Fort Pierce, but remember, this is another rookie team that is working hard and showing tremendous promise. They fish a Yamaha powered Contender.

Third place honors fell to the South Carolina team, Mikey Likes It, who actually led the event after day one, scaling a 31.61. Their 18.70 from day two was less than a pound from what was needed to keep them in the lead. In fact, they were less than a pound out of first and less than two tenths of a pound out of second. It was that tight at the top. The Hubbards, Mike, Carolyn and Michael, fished their Boater’s World Marine Center Palmetto just a few miles from the inlet both days. They ended with 186.90 points for the season, a great job from a team who reflects a positive image for their sponsors and epitomizes everything the SKA stands for.

Another Jacksonville, Florida team, Conrad Lau’s Koolau, picked up fourth with a 28.64 and 21.33. Conrad and half of the other competitors fished way south and while the area off Southport was holding better-sized kings, we didn’t see them at our scale. Conrad fished with Fred Peet, Richard Campany and Roger Walker and had just about the same overall aggregate as last season. Consistency works!

David Howard and his two sons Corey and Adam and were on the way to Atlantic Beach when a semi came from the left lane over to the right lane. “It happened so fast I don’t really understand it,” said the elder, shaken Howard the following morning. “He either hit my boat or was so close that the pressure forced the boat to begin swerving. I couldn’t stop it and we ran through the median and ended up on the far side shoulder with the boat, trailer and Suburban totaled. We are very lucky to be alive.” He then asked if I knew where he could borrow a boat so his boys could fish. As I knew of no one, I determined that even though I said I would never loan out the SKA’s Kingfish One, I couldn’t disappoint the boys. After all, family fishing is what I preach. So putting the horrendous ordeal behind them, out they went and they earned fifth, scaling a 24.93 and 22.02. “We went five miles out and started fishing,” Howard added. Corey was also our top Junior Angler for the event. The Howards earned 177.59 points for their first year on the circuit. A stellar performance!

Chris Jonsson picked up a 45.94 two-fish aggregate to capture sixth. The Side Job team, Brad Richards and Zack Jonsson, had picked up second place in Savannah and now sixth. Late bloomers? Well maybe, but a seven-fish aggregate of 193.24 earning them 23rd overall is nothing to sneeze at, especially when you look at the competition. The Mercury powered Yellowfin team has a bright spot in this sport and I believe that they will improve on their standings next season. I think that after 15 years of watching teams mature, I know talent when I see it!

What can anyone say about the Woithe family that already hasn’t been said? They earned seventh with a 19.66 and 24.71, and Bob and Susan were our top Senior Anglers. The Reel Won has become a fixture in important tournaments, mainly on the leaderboard. This year they finished 16th with 204.09 points, Susan was third in Lady Angler standings, and third in the Senior Angler ranks. Last year they earned 19th with 191 points which certainly points to consistency. But there’s more, find me one person who doesn’t have the utmost respect for this family and who doesn’t cherish their friendship. There isn’t any is correct. They, meaning Bob and Susan and their son Bruce, are truly a class act and we all are privileged to have them fishing with us.

Eighth place fell to Steve Cunningham’s No Mercy with Lee Roddenberry and John Hall on board. Steve is the man in charge of production at Contender boats, so you know what a fanatic he must be. His fishing prowess is legendary in both kingfish and billfish circles. In this event the team scaled a 21.25 and a 21.35.

Ninth place went to George Robert’s Smooth Ride after scaling a 23.85 and an 18.08. George’s Fountain / Mercury team consists of Clayton Kirby, Thomas Meyers, Jayson Cain and Brian Gillikin. This is their first year on the circuit.

Rounding out the top ten was Andy Hinton’s Hot Grits with David Stallings, Mike Schulte, Ned Grady and Preston Hendrix on board. The Mercury powered Donzi team member picked up 41.75 points. This team earned eleventh overall this season after nailing ninth last year. Their aggregates were nearly identical. This team is better than they realize and over the past two seasons are really one big fish away from winning it all. They are destined to be Champions!

Despite the fact that fish were not as plentiful as they should have been, it still was a great finish to a spectacular year. Our thanks go out to the staff of the Toys for Tots Tournament, the management of the Seawater Marina, and the Atlantic Beach Sheraton.