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Freeport, Texas - The Wagens, Jason, Jody and Jeff, caught a 46-pounder on the first day of the Texas Kingfish Association's Memorial Day weekend tournament and held that lead until after the last boat weighed the following day. That king mackerel was good for a “Sweet 16” Donzi boat compliments of the tournament’s benefactor, Texas Sportfishing Yachts.
“It's Jeff's biggest king to date,” said Millennium Marine's Captain Jason Wagen, showing a lot of pride in his son. “We ran 55 miles to the east, saw a rip line, and at 9:15 we had her in the boat.” The Wagens got some good information from Tony Dugue, Captain of the third place boat, Skeezer. “Tony gave us some great info, and because we had no bait, he gave us three hard tails, too,” said Wagen. “But we returned them on day two as we stayed in port.”
The Wagens also picked up Top Lady honors for Jody and Top Junior honors for Jeff plus the icing on the cake, Top Class of 23’ honors. “Our 23' Pro Sports catamaran ran right with the best of them in those five- to seven-footers. It's an amazing boat,” said Jason.
The weather was anything but good. With winds out of the south blowing a constant 15 to 20, everyone took a beating. At least half of the Class boats stayed in port on Sunday.
Papotanic landed the only other king in the forties. Jose Reyes, Bill Platt, Aaron Reagan, Marc Bledsoe and Tracy Alcala saw their king fall a quarter of a pound short of the leader on day one, and try as hard as they could, couldn't get that bigger one on Sunday. The Yamaha powered Contender team settled for second.
Tony Dugue's Skeezer, a Mercury powered Triton, led the field of mid-thirties that carried through tenth place. “We were hoping to improve on Sunday but couldn't find one better than our 36.60,” said Dugue just before he collected third place money. “We knew where the fish were, and yes, I gave Jason the spot to go, but remember we're good friends and isn't that what this is all about?” Dugue, John Watson, Max McCain and Ray Madden fished the structure 36 miles offshore. “We found the fish on Friday and as luck would have it, we caught one over 50 pounds and two in the forties from that spot,” he added.
Fubar was fourth. Louis and Kelly Dehaes and Chuck Rickey scaled a 35.80 on day one and like the others couldn't find one bigger on the second day. “Chuck caught her on a C&H Smoker Choker in front of a ribbonfish set deep on a Scotty Downrigger forty miles southeast of Freeport,” said Dehaes. “Our electronics went out so we were regulated to fishing rigs but it worked. We saw lots of 30s and scaled a 33-pound wahoo.” Kelly added that Dr. Randhawa, whom she works for, paid their entry fee into the event. “All in all, I'd say we ended up pretty good,” Dehaes added. They fish a Mercury powered Fountain.
Rounding out the top five, all of which were fish caught on day one, was last year's season opener winner, Force 10. Chris Machacek piloted his Evinrude powered McKee Craft to some structure 30 miles offshore. “We had caught 14 or 15 kings, the biggest 26 pounds before the 35.80 hit a hard tail,” he said. “It was great for D.J. (D.J. Kuchar, the team’s Junior Angler), he's getting his Junior Angler plaque for second and it's his birthday.” Also fishing the team was Terry Pool and Darrell Rittiman.
Kevin Arnold's Catch 22 was sixth after day one with a 34.78, but saw that place erode all the way to ninth on Sunday. Gary Morris' Main Event, Texas' first quad-engine Fountain, scaled a 35.72 to move into Catch 22's first day spot.
Next was Tommy Nolan's Texas Sportfishing Fountain with a 35.49 to pick up seventh and Mark William's Contender, Go Time, picked up a 34.88 to earn eighth.
With Catch 22 ninth, next up is David Markham's Mossy Oak. He had to borrow a boat for day two and pulled it out with a tenth place 34.26.
The top dolphin in the event, a 26.28, came from the Back N Action. Mossy Oak picked up the top cobia, a 65-pound bruiser, and Catch 22 had the top snapper, a 19.95.
Considering the weather, everything turned out well. With big crowds on both days, a great marina to host the event, and the generosity of the TKA volunteers who made the event happen, Texas is now up and competing.
To the new members, we welcome you, to old friends, thanks for fishing.

Final Standings

1. TEAM MILLENNIUM MARINE ...... 46.00
Pro Sports/Yamaha
Jason Wagen
Jody Wagen
Jeff Wagen

2. PAPOTANIC ............................... 45.75
Contender/Yamaha
Jose Reyes
Bill Platt
Aaron Reagan
Marc Bledsoe
Tracy Alcala

3. SKEEZER ................................... 36.60
Triton/Mercury
Tony Dugue
John Watson
Max McCain
Ray Madden

4. FUBAR ...................................... 35.80
Fountain/Mercury
Louis Dehaes
Chuck Rickey
Kelley Dehaes

5. FORCE 10 ................................. 35.80
McKee Craft/Evinrude
Chris Machacek
Terry Pool
Darrell Rittiman
D.J. Kuchar

6. MAIN EVENT ............................ 35.72
Fountain/Mercury
Gary Morris
Charlie Orr
Jeremy Orr
Buddy Randall

7. TEXAS SPORTFISHING YACHTS ... 35.49
Fountain/Mercury
Jason Nolan
Tommy Nolan
Kendra Jones
Todd Tullis
Eric Capps

8. GO TIME .................................. 34.88
Contender/Yamaha
Mark Williams
Kirt Wells
Vince Howard
Brian Carroll
Greg Deutrich

9. CATCH 22 ................................ 34.78
Hydra Sports/Yamaha
Kevin Arnold
Ronnie Wills
Kyle Arnold
Brian Keen
Bill Wright

10. MOSSY OAK ........................... 34.26
McKee Craft/Yamaha
David Markham
Drew Dean
Chad Kirby
Craig Price
Darwin Ballard

CLASS OF 23’
1. TEAM MILLENNIUM MARINE ........ 46.00

TOP LADY ANGLER
JODY WAGEN ……. TEAM MILLENNIUM MARINE

SKA TOP JUNIORS
Sponsored by Texas Sport Fishing Yachts & Fountain Powerboats

1. JEFF WAGEN …...........................…. TEAM MILLENNIUM MARINE
2. D.J. KUCHAR …................................ FORCE 10
3. ERIN REIMER & AMY GEORGE ……… BLONDIE 2