PRO    DIV 1    DIV 2   DIV 3   DIV 4   DIV 5   DIV 6   DIV 7   DIV 8   DIV 9   DIV 10    DIV 11    DIV12

FINAL STRIKE GOES INTO THE SKA ARCHIVES AS THE 2005 “ANGLER OF THE YEAR!”

by Jack Holmes

Terry Johnson put together a team of highly skilled north Florida king fishermen to make a run at the title this year. It was a good mix as Jake Fulmer, David Redick, Chris Johnson and Clyde Keen won the title scoring the second largest seven-fish aggregate, 245.06, we’ve seen the past four years. That’s a 35-pound per fish average. Dean Spatholt’s Fish Meister team last year posted a seven fish aggregate of 246.38. The Final Strike team, fishing a Mercury powered Yellowfin, started the season off with a fifth place finish at Fort Pierce, then picked up second place money in Fourchon, Louisiana. As the tour moved to their home waters in Jacksonville, all eyes were on the team to do well and they didn’t disappoint by capturing 12th. In the final two events in Savannah and Atlantic Beach the team did not cash in but continued to replace smaller fish with bigger ones.

The big scare came in the final event when they could not improve on their 16-pound drop fish on day one and Sandy Smith’s Gator Bait / Gemlux moved into the lead by 3 points. The next day would determine our champion. The Final Strike still had a 16-pound drop fish while Smith now had to replace a 21-pounder. Johnson’s team found their fish; Smith did not, a nail biting, exciting ending for a great season.

The team will now get their trophy and a $20,000 check for being our Pro champions at the National Championship in Fort Pierce. I think that this is a very good team; maybe the best we’ve seen come along in quite a while. Time will tell, but I for one would not take this team lightly.

So here comes the clichés: Mr. Number 2, can’t win the big one, and there will be others. Could this be Fort Pierce, Florida’s Sandy Smith’s destiny? If you believe that, you’re a fool. Make no mistake, Smith is without a doubt the best king mackerel fisherman fishing today and you can extend that to the last five years. He had a good team this year also, Matt Bridgewater and Wylie Nagler, to help him in his quest.

In talking to team members that fish with Smith, it’s all about winning. Not the money, just pride. He never quits, never leaves the cockpit, always working on presentation, always ready to set the hook. His intensity level is his secret, and his knowledge is what keeps him at the top.

Smith and his Mercury powered Yellowfin team ended up with a seven-fish aggregate of 242.70, which is a 34.67 average, a full pound and a half better than his fourth place finish last year. They pick up an extra ten grand for finishing second.

Mercury Outboards and Yellowfin boats ended up one, two this year!

Third place fell to our season opener winner, Season Ticket from Jacksonville, Florida. Captain David Butler, Brad Butler, John Hardie and Chuck Tower won Fort Pierce, then went on to stay in the top ten in the standings for the next four events. They dropped to eighth after Savannah, but went to work in Atlantic Beach, adding their seventh fish that moved them back up to third. When have you seen a season where two rookie teams finished first and third and they come from the same town, Jacksonville, Florida?

This team put together a seven-fish aggregate of 232.13, or a 33.16-pound average. First year jitters kept them out of the number one slot, but to accomplish what they did, especially when you examine the talent in the field, should equate to a top contender next year. They fish a Yamaha powered Contender.

Fourth place, with a 230.10 seven-fish aggregate, belongs to D.Scott Elliott’s Use of Proceeds. Scott, too, put together a great, talented team that certainly contributed to their impressive finish. Elliott, Ted Davis, David Monda and Jon Pearman picked up third place money in Fort Pierce, and added a sixth place in Savannah. Elliott fishes a Yamaha powered Contender, finished 31st last year in the standings, and moved up significantly this season. If I’m right on the team jelling in their first season, this has to be a winning favorite next year.

Rounding out the top five and giving Florida teams a big sweep is Fort Pierce’s Miller Tyme, Captained by Joseph Miller. From 48th last year to fifth this year. Do we have another world-class team developing from this city? I think so. With a 12th in Fort Pierce, third in Jacksonville and 13th in Savannah they showed good consistency with a 225.19 aggregate.

Another team that I believe could have won it all was the Butler’s Crawgator. No doubt after loosing their marina in Venice, Louisiana from Hurricane Katrina their emotions were not totally focused on their fishing in the last two events. Eighth last year, now sixth. Since they started fishing with us they have been a top ten team, certainly the best from the Upper Gulf. Bill Butler, Mike Butler, Freddie Travis, Rick Ryan and Steve Jenkins amassed a seven-fish aggregate of 225.19 pounds, seven pounds better than last season.

Chuck Permenter’s Mining My Bidness stayed in the top ten all season thanks to a second place finish in Fort Pierce. After 50th last year, sixth this season, someone obviously has done their homework. I think they will tell you it’s a team effort. I agree, they’re all good fishermen. Patrick Bellamy, Kent Taylor and Chris Blanton helped Permenter a lot and were the top South Carolina team this season. They had a 224.25 aggregate.

What I’ve seen this season is a group of teams that are fishing harder than the other Pros. Sure, the others will tell you that the top dogs got lucky, but I can see the difference in attitudes and determination. I am truly impressed!

The Texas team Lured Away, led by Albert Vrazel and Bobby Schoenfeld, became the first Texas team to become a top contender in this sport. The team paid their dues last season finishing in the cellar and came back to have a shot at winning it all in Atlantic Beach. They earned eighth overall with 222.32 points. They still earned a lot of money with a big win in Fourchon. No one works harder that this team. Keep it up and you’ll be at the top next season. Elvin Chamorro, Sharon Kamp and Carla Schoenfeld filled out the Mercury powered Donzi team.

Jeff, Bob and Greg Weathers earned ninth in the Mercury powered Contender, Triple Gobble. This is the third top ten team that is in their rookie year. Incredible! But remember that the Weathers have been dominating leaderboards in South Carolina for many years. It was only right that they moved into the Pro ranks and improved their value. Can you imagine the confidence level they’ll carry into next year? Everyone else had better get their act together or the title will move to South Carolina. They had a 219, seven-fish aggregate. I truly believe that they had a big shot at winning it all but couldn’t connect in Savannah, close to their home waters. But one thing I’ve noticed over the years, as you learn other waters, you somehow don’t get the job done at home. Don’t ask me why, it just happens. That they must work on.

David Van Lent, the 2000 Angler of the Year, proved that he and the In The Rough team should not be counted out yet. What impressed me was they never gave up, came back in Atlantic Beach, earned tenth overall, and propelled his wife Rose into the top Lady Angler slot. This after she won Division 11 and finished a close third in Division 7. She is definitely the top female fishing today. The Van Lents and Keith, Jeff and Dayna Hall make up the Yamaha powered Contender team.

Her last year fishing as a Junior Angler, Katherine Scharfschwerdt ended the season with a bang by leading the category with a 187.47 aggregate. The Donzi / Mercury Wound Tight team, yet another Florida boat, is a great fishing team Captained by Tommy Mulligan. While the Junior Anglers can now let out a collective sigh of relief, the SKA’s Lady Anglers better watch out next year, this girl can fish!

Team Furuno / That’s My Dog’s William Taylor scaled a fish on day two of the final leg of the tour to take the lead among Senior Anglers. Bill Higgins of the Miss Behavin was leading the category with only one day to go, but Captain Forrest Taylor’s boat came to the docks with a grinning William Taylor to weigh the 22.15-pounder that would seal the deal. The Yellowfin / Mercury team’s 206.68 aggregate would prove to name William Taylor SKA’s top Pro Senior Angler by less than a half-pound.

This had to be a very frustrating year for a lot of the teams we’ve seen at the top over the years. Are the new teams joining the Pro ranks that good? Take it to the bank. But don’t count the names we’ve come to respect over the years. They need to quit second guessing their efforts, and need to get back to the basics. Things that got them to the top before must be rediscovered. So I guess what I’m saying is this: this year was the best race for the cup in a long time. We’re egos bruised? You bet. Will there be a renewed effort by most teams? Absolutely! Next year will be the best ever.

Congratulations to all our top ten finalists and to our Anglers of the Year, Final Strike.