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Venice, Louisiana - In a classic battle of two titans, only one could emerge the victor. There are no ties in kingfishing. Marcus Kennedy and his team on the Kwazar and Neal Foster and the Intense team, both from Mobile, Alabama, are two of the greats in the upper Gulf.
   On day one with calm seas and light breezes, the two titans left Cypress Cove Marina as soon as they could show their number, run to their waiting boats, and kick the big block outboards into forward. Foster and Kennedy had each predetermined their strategy and elected to fish east of the Mississippi River, ignoring the Delta.
   Intense, with Foster, Robbie and Andrew Montgomery and Mark Collier, returned to the newly planked dock at Cypress Cove first and weighed what would become the biggest king of the weekend, a 51.95. “Mark caught the fish,” said Foster, who was not sure the big king would hold up seeing he was there when the scales opened. “We fished in 200 feet of water and caught her on a hard tail on the surface.”
   Lined Out, with Mitch Mosley and Robby Kennedy, slid to the dock with the biggest king of the day on a Class boat, a respectable 49.36. This Class boat certainly had a shot at winning this year's Cypress Cove event. It's been done before, many times! 
   Then came the Kwazar, and by looking at the fish bag they weren't packing light. “We got a nice one,” said Kennedy. “But wait till you see our Wahoo.” The king was brought to the scale and tipped the scales at 50.44. Foster had the day one lead.
   The king was returned to the Kwazar for pictures after the Wahoo was weighed at 98.50 pounds. Late that afternoon the Kwazar team cooked part of the ‘hoo and it was delicious.
   We weren't finished yet; there were others in the fray. Stephen Barfoot and the Snafu team scaled a 46.67, Bob Wyres’ Purse Snatcher presented us with a 45.78, David Rogers Jr. had a 45.90, and Van Woodham's Cavalla scaled a 43.73. They were all in the hunt.
   The teams woke Saturday morning to ominous clouds and thunder rumbling in the distance. With no hint of impending weather on Friday, everyone kind of scratched their heads. But a storm a hundred miles wide had formed off the Florida / Alabama coast and was moving southwest. Most boats checked out while a few cautious ones put them on the trailer. The storm passed over Venice quickly and dropped very little rain. Offshore it was another story. Most boats took refuge behind the closest oil rig while others just rode it out. Three hours of agony and rough seas, and even though it subsided enough to wet a line, everyone still took a whipping.
   Woodham's Cavalla came in first to move the two-day aggregate bar to 85.16 pounds thanks to their second day 41.43. On board were Mike Galszer and Richie Ladnier.
   Bob Wyres and Aaron, Melissa and Alecia Wells slid the Purse Snatcher to the dock next and weighed a 34.45. Fishing a Class boat, the team said they just couldn't move around and get to where they wanted to be. “It was really rough,” lamented Melissa Wells. They had 80.23 points.
   David Rogers pulled a 44.15 from the Quietus' fish bag and helped put it on the scale. When it went 44.15 pounds, the team of J.J. Gilmore and Jason Andrews knew they had a shot at some money. Rogers explained, “We fished the east side also, fished in 180 feet the first day and 165 feet on day two. Both were caught by Jason on hard tails.”
   The Dees family came in on their big Contender, and Jeff and Jenny Dees brought a nice 48.19 to the scale. It was enough to put the Top Producer into fifth place when they added the 34.56 scaled on day one. The 48-pounder would be the biggest king scaled on day two.
   Finally Kwazar came to the dock. I hollered at Marcus, “You better not be light.” Marcus smiled and hollered back at Neal, “You've probably got this one. Mine is just over 40.” Radio chatter had led Marcus to believe that Neal's king was over 45 pounds. On the scale the fish registered 42.29. Tallying the score, Deona Holmes proclaimed, “92.73 pounds for the Kwazar.” They had the victory by .18 pounds. The battle of the titans had come to a spectacular conclusion.
   Both teams fished the east side and were using the same baits. Foster fished from 170 to 200 feet of water while Kennedy spread baits in 180 to 200 feet.
   The Cypress Cove event paid out the guaranteed payout of $12,500 to Kwazar for the win and $7,000 to Foster's Intense for second. Rogers' Quietus was third and collected $3,000 and another $3,000 for being the top Class of 23’ boat.
   This is a great rivalry between the Kwazar and Intense and both Captains have earned the respect of their peers on the upper Gulf coast. But there's more. To carry on this rivalry in the future is Marcus's son Tyler, who won Top Junior Angler honors. On the Intense there’s Robbie Montgomery's son, Andrew, who can definitely make his presence felt. This is what competitive fishing is all about. As Foster told the crowd at the awards ceremony, “This isn't about the money, never has been, never will be.”  The words of a true sport fisherman, father, friend and role model!

PUBLISHERS OBSERVATIONS:

When we pulled onto Highway 23 south to Venice, everything looked like it did the last time we went south. All that changed after we passed Belle Chase. Hurricane Katrina left remnants of destruction and devastation. Worst was that it looked like the hurricane had gone through the month before, not a year ago. There were tons of debris with homes and businesses leveled, probably never to return. I've see many storms batter the eastern seaboard including Hurricane Andrew, which leveled southern Dade County. In every instance, properties were rebuilt better than ever. However, I really have to wonder if this part of Louisiana will ever return. I can't believe that we can fund a war in Iraq, fund the peace keeping forces in Afghanistan, and continue to support third world countries while American citizens still have their communities in shambles. I don't advocate handouts, but I do support government subsidies as way for people to get back on their feet. You'd agree if you'd have made the drive.
   On a positive note, Cypress Cove now has their hotel open and their in-out storage barn has been re-skinned and functional. The fuel pump docks are repaired along with A, B and C docks. The marina had to be completely dredged and that task should be completed by the second week in August. Electricians will complete work on part of the docks within three weeks. The ships store and restaurant / bar are in the early stages of being rebuilt. Sonny and Renee say that the marina will be back to world-class status, hopefully in time for the winter tuna season.
   Mike and Bill Butler’s Venice Marina has come a lone way. Docks are rebuilt and marina slips are close to being fully rented. The entire property has been bulk-headed. New rental cottages are now available and a new convenience / tackle store has been built with an adjoining restaurant / bar. The property looks better than before the storm in a lot of respects, but there is still work to be done. The Butlers will build 25 condos on the north side of the property immediately following the hurricane season. Debris removal and the southern boat sheds still need work. Our hats are off to all that had a hand in the restructuring of the Venice Marina.        

Cypress Cove Final Standings

1.   KWAZAR................................... 50.44 … 42.29 … 92.73
      Contender/Yamaha
      Marcus Kennedy
      Pete Shores
      Tyler Kennedy
      Mike Ward

2.   INTENSE.................................. 51.95 ... 40.60 ... 92.55
      Contender/Yamaha
      Neal Foster
      Robbie Montgomery
      Andrew Montgomery
      Mark Collier

3.   QUIETUS.................................. 45.90 … 44.15 ... 90.05
      Yellowfin/ Mercury
      David Rogers Jr.
      J.J. Gilmore
      Jason Andrews

4.   CAVALLA.................................. 43.73 … 41.43 … 85.16
      Endurance/Mercury
      Van Woodham
      Mike Galszer
      Richie Ladnier

5.   TOP PRODUCER......................... 34.56 … 48.19 … 82.75
      Contender/Yamaha
      Mike Dees
      Jeff Dees
      Sheree Dees
      Jenny Dees

6.   SNAFU...................................... 46.67 … 35.54 … 82.21
      Contender/Yamaha
      Stephen Barfoot
      Spencer Johnson
      Chance Johnson
      Andrew Barfoot
      Blake Knowles

7.   PURSE SNATCHER..................... 45.78 … 34.45 … 80.23
      Fountain/Mercury
      Bob Wyres
      Aaron Wells
      Melissa Wells
      Alecia Wells

8.   LINED OUT............................... 49.36 … 29.83 … 79.19
      Contender/Mercury
      Mitch Mosley
      Robby Kennedy

9.   BYRD DOG................................ 31.49 … 45.71 … 77.20
      Contender/Yamaha
      Ritchie Byrd
      Tim Barley

10. BOW DOWN.............................. 37.33 … 34.55 … 71.88
      Contender/Yamaha
      Doug Franklin
      Robert Bonifay
      Ryan Long

CLASS OF 23

1.   QUIUETUS ….........................… 92.73
2.   SNAFU ………............................ 82.21
3.   PURSE SNATCHER …................ 80.23

SKA / CYPRESS COVE JUNIOR ANGLERS
Presented by Texas Sportfishing Yacht Sales & Fountain Powerboats

1.   TYLER KENNEDY......................... KWAZAR
2.   ANDREW MONTGOMERY.............. INTENSE
3.   ANDREW BARFOOT..................... SNAFU
      CHANCE JOHNSON
      BLAKE KNOWLES