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St. Augustine, Florida - Halfway through day two’s weigh-in at the Ancient City Kingfish Challenge things were looking pretty good for Captain Dick Gilreath of the Son Shine / Avid Angler team. He and his crew were still leading the field, and while they had brought a fish to the scale, it didn’t quite top the 35.65 they had managed to reel in during Saturday’s rough conditions. The top ten hadn’t moved all day, and with only 40 minutes remaining to weigh, Gilreath had to be feeling pretty confident. With a field of 260 boats, all knowing what they needed to win, surely anyone with a first place fish would have played it safe and weighed it early. But at 3:30 a pack of boats passed under St. Augustine’s Bridge of Lions and made the turn west towards the docks. Among the fleet were Captain Joe Heath and Don Johnson on the Tripped Out, about to weigh a 37-pounder to secure their first tournament victory.

“It was kind of funny because mainly we were just fishing for points, trying to get to the Nationals,” smiled Heath. On day one the team had scored a 16-pounder fishing the 36’ Mercury powered Yamaha off the beach right outside the inlet, but they knew that wasn’t good enough in a competitive Division like 5. “Heading out today we were only shooting for a 29-pounder.” With fairer conditions on Sunday the team decided to make a short run. “We were fishing at CH, Clayton Holler, about a 30-mile run,” reported Heath. It was an incredibly slow day for the team, and by 1:30 they were still waiting for a bite. “There was a good squall coming our way, so we decided that we’d leave at 2:30 to try to avoid it.” Wouldn’t you know it, at 2:30 the downrigger reel started screaming, but the team wasn’t complaining and Johnson grabbed the rod. “We fought her right through the storm,” recalled Heath. It was a descent fight, taking over 30 minutes, but was ended by a clean gaff from Heath. “Then we headed straight in.” 

At the scales the Tripped Out’s king would prove to weigh 37.90 pounds, leading the field by over two pounds. For their efforts Heath and Johnson won the grand prize 22’ McKee Craft complete with an Evinrude 225 and Loadmaster trailer valued at over $60,000. “Well, we’d just like to thank Lon Bryan for not winning this one, since we taught him everything he knows,” grinned a jovial Heath after the awards presentation. The Tripped Out will be fishing both events at the Greater Jacksonville tournament, and while they currently are in 11th in the Division, that’s with only two fish. Their 35.79 average tops the Open Class leader Mellow Yellow’s average by over four pounds. Needing only one more good fish, it’s pretty safe odds these guys will do better than just qualify this year. Keep an eye on this team in Jacksonville.

Like many teams battling through the rough conditions on Saturday, the Son Shine / Avid Angler decided to make an early day of it and check in early. In fact, the chop was so bad on Saturday that over 150 boats had checked in before weigh-in began at 3:00. But two boats, Son Shine / Avid Angler and Warrior, were tied up at the docks ready with a good fish. They were both eager for weigh-in to begin and just plain happy to be off the water. “The weather was sloppy,” reported Charlie Padrick. “They were calling for four to six, but they were four on top of six!”

The team’s only strike of the day came early, “we caught that fish at straight up eight o’clock. We didn’t have any bait at all, only ribbons out,” reported Padrick. The team had navigated their 31’ Mercury powered Fountain to the Captain’s House, and were trolling in 43 feet of water when their big king hit the ribbon on the long shotgun line. Tommy Vaughn of local bait shop the Avid Angler took up angling duties and made short work of the fish. “It was only about a ten minute fight, luckily we got her in before it got really, really, really rough.” When it was finally time to weigh, their mossback tipped the scale to 35.65 pounds, but this team wasn’t about to rest on their laurels. Captain Gilreath headed right back out on Sunday in an effort to better that king. “We were fishing in almost the exact same spot,” reported Padrick, and again a ribbon on the long shotgun line was smashed. This time Padrick, a SKA charter member since ’91, took up the rod and brought the king to the gaff. It was a fat fish, and the team wasn’t taking any chances and they brought her to the scales. Their second king went 25 pounds, which would have made top five on day one. A great effort from an experienced team, Gilreath and crew earned a 14’ McKee Craft with Evinrude 50 E-Tec and EZ Loader trailer valued at $15,000 to take home to Jacksonville, Florida. Watch out for these guys, Padrick says they might fish a few more before the season ends.

Third place went to the other boat tied up at the beginning of Saturday’s weigh-in, Captain L.A. Denzer’s Warrior. He and Randy Jones were fishing their 29’ Mercury powered Donzi just south of the Captain’s House, trolling in 38 feet of water. The team had a long wait; their big king didn’t come until nearly one o’clock. “We’d just released a big old shark and Randy was putting the lines out when she hit a ribbon going down on the downrigger,” recalled Denzer. Randy grabbed the rod and found she was a feisty fish, perhaps overly so. “She made three long runs, and then when she finally got to the boat she was just dead,” reported Denzer, who slid up for a “flawless gaff.”

“After patting each other on the back we iced the fish down and headed straight back.” Third to weigh earned the team third place overall, as they couldn’t beat that 33.20 during Sunday’s fishing. The Valdosta, Georgia Warrior team earned a new Evinrude 90 E-Tec for that 33-pounder, and will be fishing in Jacksonville next.

Jacksonville, Florida’s Captain Randy Nader and the Exterminader team are up next with a fourth place 32.65-pounder. In an effort to avoid some of the nastier weather on Saturday Captain Randy, Ray, Samantha and Jayne Nader and Jerry Moulton headed their 33’ Yamaha powered Contender south to fish just short of Canaveral. Like many of the teams out there, Nader and crew had a long wait for their only strike of the day. “It was really a last minute fish, we hooked up at 2:20 and had it in the boat in ten minutes,” reported Nader, who gaffed the fish after Jerry had muscled it to the boat.  “We knew it was going to take over two hours to get back to the inlet,” continued Nader, and the team was one of the last handful to weigh. Heading back out on Sunday the team fished a little further south, and again had only one strike, and this time it was another good one, a 30-pounder, just not quite big enough to beat their first fish. Not only did Nader and the Exterminader take fourth place, earning a Honda generator and $7,000 cash, but Samantha and Jayne also shared in the Top Junior Angler honors with that king. The Exterminader will be fishing both Canaveral and Jacksonville next, watch out for Nader and company to come on strong in their home waters.

Jacksonville, Florida’s Captain Tim Sisler and the Reel Phetish crew duplicated Exterminader’s fish, just one day later to round out the top five. On day one Captain Sisler, Ryan Keith, Ryan Christian and Ray Forbess headed the 33’ Yamaha powered Hydra Sport to just outside of the inlet, and in the rough conditions had one long, trying day with no strikes. On day two the team headed out, and determined not to goose egg again they made the run to Elton Bottom. “It took us three hours to get there, but we were the second boat there,” reported Forbess. The team was immediately rewarded for their long run when in ten minutes a ribbon was smashed and Keith grabbed the rod. It was a quick ten minute fight, and Forbess sealed the deal with a clean gaff shot. “We fished the rest of the day, we really wanted to better that fish,” he continued, but that’s another story.

“All my buddies fish on Southbound,” explained Forbess. “So after their Fernandina win I told them I would wear a leprechaun outfit to the next Captain’s meeting if they won another tournament.” Well, we all know what happened at Two Way, and at the Ancient City Captain’s meeting Forbess proved he’s a man of his word, to the delight of the many Junior Anglers who were finishing up their tournament. So how does all this relate to Reel Phetish and their extreme desire to top that 32-pounder? “Well, if we win any, then Southbound has to come to the next Captain’s meeting in cheerleader outfits,” smiled Forbess. With the Reel Phetish fishing their home waters next, the stakes are high.

Captain Austin McCormack and the Here We Go Again crew took sixth place on the strength of a 31.65-pounder. Captain McCormack, Rush Hanner and Steven Grant fish a 29’ Mercury powered Fountain out of Jacksonville, Florida and caught that fish on Sunday.

Top honors in the Class of 23’ fell to the seventh place boat, Square & Level, Captained by Pete Eldridge. “Well, we pretty much fished the Atlantic coastline,” smiled Eldridge, “we went 85 miles north on day one and 85 miles south to Canaveral on day two.” Heading the 23’ Yamaha powered Contender south on Sunday Captain Pete and Schley Eldridge and Harris and Trey Hines were trolling in 40 feet of water when their king nailed a yet another ribbonfish 20 feet down on the downrigger. “The best thing to happen to us this weekend was the bait man not showing up and saving me money,’ joked Eldridge. Trey was the angler of the hour as he spent 20 minutes bringing the king to Pete’s waiting gaff, and the team soon had a 30.05 on ice. “My son, Schley, is on fire this year, we took Class honors at the Kingbuster, then first in Class when he fished on Johnny Wildes’ boat at Two Way, and now here,” beamed Pete. Watch for this Waycross, Georgia team to try to keep the streak going as they fish Jacksonville next.

Captain John Crumrine and the Stressless team pulled down a 29.95-pounder on day two. Captain Crumrine, Vance Goode and Jennifer Jones fish a 31’ Mercury powered Fountain out of Jacksonville Beach, Florida. That eighth place fish was also good to name Jennifer the SKA Top Lady Angler, as well as position the team in sixth Divisionally.  Next up is Captain Richard and Glenn Champion who fished their 31’ Mercury powered Fountain, the Hunker Down, into a ninth place slot with a 29.85-pounder.

The Reel Warrior II rounds out the top ten and second place honors in the Class of 23’ for the event. Captain Lyle Rose and Derek Leonard had headed their 23’ Yamaha powered Contender to the Nassau livebottom on day one, and like many teams out there were having a rough time of it. When their king finally hit a blue runner at 12:15, Lyle had his hands full fighting the waves and getting their fish to the boat. “She about got in the prop on us,” he recalled. “It was real bad out there, but we stuck it out.” At the scales their king went 29.85 pounds, good for fourth on Saturday. On Sunday the team went back out and hooked a little king, a red snapper and three cobia, but they couldn’t top that 29-pounder. “We just couldn’t get another big bite,” grimaced Rose. Watch for the Reel Warrior II to be fishing hard at the Captain Hap’s and Jacksonville tournaments this month.

Captain Jimmy Garza and the Tammy’s Torture crew landed a 27.05 on Sunday to take 11th place, naming Triston Vann and Logan Hagerty second place Junior Anglers. The 12th position went to Papa Joe, Captain Richard Tipping’s team, with a 26.95 king. After that fish Tipping and crew are sitting in ninth in the Division. Captain Vincent Serrano and the Vanisea crew landed a 24.60 on Saturday, but dropped from fifth to 13th when they couldn’t better it on Sunday. Captain Joe Noda’s Jaw Breaker rounds out the SKA sweep at 14th with a 24.30. The 15th position fell to non-member Reel Hunt. Ain the Junior Angler race Matthew Scharfschwerdt rounded out the top three on Wound Tight with a 22.80.

Although the weather didn’t cooperate for the anglers, the Ancient City Gamefish Association Kingfish Challenge otherwise went off without a hitch. Tournament Director Jim Blalock and his team always put on a great show in St. Augustine and they didn’t disappoint this year. With over 140 Junior Anglers participating in Friday’s Junior Event and 260 boats in the regular event, things were hopping the whole weekend. Leroy and Wanda Kinlaw of the Wanda’s Diamonds team were at the event providing fishermen with an incredible pulled pork dinner Friday, BBQ wings on Saturday, and fried fish dinner on Sunday. With Ancient City signaling the halfway mark for this highly competitive Division, look for these anglers to really put their collective noses to the grindstone come the last two events this month in Jacksonville.

Ancient City Final Standings

1.   TRIPPED OUT............................ 37.90
      Yellowfin/Mercury
      Joe Heath
      Don Johnson

2.   SON SHINE / AVID ANGLER....... 35.65
      Fountain/Mercury
      Dick Gilreath
      Charlie Padrick

3.   WARRIOR.................................. 33.20
      Donzi/Mercury
      L.A. Denzer
      Randy Jones

4.   EXTERMINADER......................... 32.65
      Contender/Yamaha
      Randy Nader
      Ray Nader
      Samantha  Nader
      Jerry Moulton
      Jayne Nader

5.   REEL PHETISH........................... 32.65
      Hydra Sports/Yamaha
      Tim Sisler
      Ryan Keith
      Ryan Christian
      Ray Forbess

6.   HERE WE GO AGAIN.................. 31.65
      Fountain/Mercury
      Austin McCormack
      Rush Hanner
      Steven Grant

7.   SQUARE & LEVEL....................... 30.05
      Contender/Yamaha
      Pete Eldridge
      Schley Eldridge
      Harris Hines
      Trey Hines

8.   STRESSLESS.............................. 29.95
      Fountain/Mercury
      John A. Crumrine
      Vance Goode III
      Jennifer Jones

9.   HUNKER DOWN.......................... 29.85
      Fountain/Mercury
      Richard Champion
      Glenn Champion

10. REEL WARRIOR II...................... 28.00
      Contender/Yamaha
      Lyle Rose
      Derek Leonard

11. TAMMY'S TORTURE.................... 27.05
      Fountain/Mercury
      Jimmy Garza
      James Vann
      Triston Vann
      Logan Hagerty

12. PAPA JOE................................... 26.95
      Palmetto/Evinrude
      Richard Tipping
      Tim Pugh
      Waylon Townsend
      Hannah Tipping

13. VANISEA................................... 24.60
      Hydra Sports/Yamaha
      Vincent Serrano
      Russ Ost
      Chris Kalinski
      Bruce Hall

14. JAW BREAKER............................ 24.30
      Sailfish/Yamaha
      Joe Noda
      Jimmy Adelsrerger

15. Reel Hunt.................................... 24.10

16. DOUBLE K.................................. 24.05
      Everglades/Mercury
      Kevin Faver
      Ben Cleghorn
      Carrie Faver
      Lorin Cleghorn

17. BEER MONEY.............................. 23.70
      Fountain/Mercury
      Chris Stephens
      Jerry Richardson
      Joey Kaylor

18. SEASON TICKET........................ 23.65
      Contender/Yamaha
      David Butler
      Rob Sanders
      Brad Butler

19. Ms Ashley.................................... 23.25

20. JEWELIN................................... 23.25
      Clearwater/Yamaha
      James Fedick
      Pat Fedick

Class of 23’ Bonus
1.  SQUARE & LEVEL.......................... 30.05

SKA Top Junior Anglers
Sponsored by Subway
1. Samantha & Jayne Nader................ Exterminader
2. Triston Vann & Logan Hagerty......... Tammy’s Torture II
3. Matthew Scharfschwerdt................. Wound Tight

SKA Top Lady Angler
Jennifer Jones.................................... Stressless