>>read more Mercury Trail stories<<

FOUR MARY’S LEADS NAPLES WITH 39.33-POUNDER! Tsourakis and Crew Take the Lead for Division 11 Title
by Ian Warner Mother Nature seems to have something against Division 11, and the Naples Contender Kingfish Classic was no exception. Held at the scenic Bayfront Center in Naples March 24th through the 26th, anglers were met with 25 mph winds that were toppling trees in the Center’s walkway. While the winds were strong, they were nothing compared to the waves that were stacking up offshore. The word for the day was unprintable, and with the weigh-in half over on Saturday, more boats had checked in early with no fish than those that had weighed. At the end of the day, only 10 of the 36 boats had a score posted. But while it was rough, very rough, these SKA fishermen and fisherwomen wouldn’t let it get them down.

“We were offshore about 32 miles out,” reported Captain Joe Scalora of the Connie Jean at weigh-in on Saturday. “We were running into six to eights, occasional ten to twelves, and we came off a rogue wave. Everybody on the boat hit the deck, and I fell into the steering wheel hard. I popped two ribs so I’m in a little bit of pain right now. We were catching a lot of air, catching a lot of water, having a good time, but we’re ready to do it again tomorrow. We’re going to get patched up and we’ll be back out there,” smiled Scalora. You’ve got to love that dedication. Everyone was getting beat up out there, but you’ve got to play to win.

After a long day on the water Saturday and the smallest king on the leaderboard to show for it, things were looking grim for the Four Mary’s. With a commanding 36.82 already in the books from Marco Island, Captain Pete Tsourakis and his crew of Harry and Keith Thomas and Joel Zalud knew they had to dig deep if they wanted to stay in Division 11’s top five. Heading the 34’ Mercury powered Fountain to the same spot at the T Tower the team was trolling hard in 70 feet of water when their tournament-winner struck a runner on the medium line. As luck would have it, the timing was less than perfect. Angler Joel Zalud was utilizing the oldest of chumming tactics when the reel started screaming. “I had to fight the fish with my pants at my ankles,” smiled Zalud. “Fortunately, I had long johns on.”

“It was a nerve-wracking fight,” described gaff man Keith Thomas, but the team got the big girl over the side in under half an hour. With such a good fish in the box the decision to head to the scales was easy, and the Four Mary’s was the second boat to the docks on Sunday. It was a long wait for the team, as nearly half the field came to the scales with a fish in the box, but their 39.33-pound smoker could not be toppled, naming the Four Mary’s Champion of the Naples Contender Kingfish Classic. To the victors go the spoils; Tsourakis and crew head back to Wesley Chapel, FL with a brand new 21’ Contender complete with a Yamaha 225 outboard and Loadmaster trailer courtesy of 1st Choice Marine, Contender, Yamaha and Loadmaster. In addition, as the first place Fountain boat, Tsourakis will be receiving a $7,500 Rolex and prize package from Fountain boats. Tsourakis and crew would again like to thank the fine people at SportsUSA Marine Group for their continued support.

“We’re just very happy to put two good fish on the board this early,” commented Zalud at the awards ceremony Sunday. “I would think that put us in the lead for the Division.” Indeed, that 39.33-pounder was good to take the lead in Division 11, leading second place Never E-Nuff by almost eight pounds. So what’s the game plan for Sarasota? “Well, it’s going to come down to the weather. But Sarasota is my hometown so hopefully we’ll put another fish on the board,” said Zalud. Watch for this team to be fishing strong at the Division’s conclusion.

Team PromarineUSA.com / Hannon’s Cannon was at the top of the leaderboard at the conclusion of Saturday’s fishing with a 37.41, but couldn’t find the 40-pounder needed to beat the Four Mary’s fish. Ironically, they caught their kings in the same area. “They hooked that fish at the exact same spot we did, the same side and location off the Tower, just one day later,” smiled Steve Rowley. The T Tower 50 miles southwest of Naples was definitely the spot to be during this event, and was where the team’s big king nailed a blue runner in the prop wash at 10:30 on Saturday. Captain Kevin Hannon assumed his position on the rod as Rick Cook steered the 34’ Yellowfin and Steve Rowley waited on deck with the gaff. Kevin made short work of the king, and the team was the first to the dock with a fish in the bag. “The three different motors on the back of the boat just ran perfectly. Mercury, Evinrude and Yamaha: all the girls were cooperating,” reported Rowley. Landing a high-20’s on Sunday, Captain Hannon and crew earned second place honors to take home to St. Petersburg, FL, and are heading to Ft. Pierce next.

Captain Alberto Abad and the Mambo Kings crew decided to fish a fairly well known spot on Sunday, the Hummer Hole, 43 miles south just inside of the Tower. Arriving at 8:45 there were already three boats with wet lines and more on the way. The Hole produced a king quickly, and with Brandon Lawson on the rod and Josh Hatcher behind the wheel, Abad gaffed a quick points-fish. Next the team got a good 25-pounder. “At this time we were pleased. We were very happy considering the conditions of the tournament,” said Abad. “We were just re-rigging the rods after that fish when the starboard rocket launcher screamed and I grabbed it,” reported Lawson. A good 20-minute fight, the king made more than a couple of runs before Lawson wore it down. “I finally got it close enough to the boat, and then the ‘Mad Gaffer’, Alberto here, got the gaff in it,” smiled Lawson. While the team was very happy with the fish, they continued to tough it out in their 25’ Yamaha powered Contender for another half an hour trying to better it. “We knew we needed a good two hours to get back, so we had to head out,” reported Abad. The fourth team to reach the scales on Sunday, the Mambo Kings posted a 35.41 to take third place and hold it for the remainder of the tournament. Heading to Ft. Pierce next, Abad and the Mambo Kings would like to thank their sponsor Anderson Windows for their continued support.

Captain Vic Vazquez navigated his 39’ Yamaha powered Midnight Express into fourth place with a 30.76-pounder. After a rough Saturday with no kings, Vazquez and Sean Morton along with John, Mike, Michael and Nicholas Guitano headed 60 miles south to fish a spot they were familiar with. The Midnight Madness’ winning king arrived about noon, nailing a blue runner 38 feet down while trolling in 70 feet of water. John Guitard stepped up to the plate and began what would be a 30-minute battle, and when the king got close the team saw why. “He was foul hooked. We got him close and I was on starboard, then he shot under the boat and Sean gaffed him from the port side,” said John. It’s not often you have to let out line after the gaff, but the team wasn’t complaining. A solid 30-pounder at the scales was good to earn Midnight Madness fourth place overall as well as Top Junior Angler honors for Michael and Nicholas Guitano, who took the weather in stride. “I found it pretty calm,” reported Michael. Of course, their Captain reports that these boys are happiest with the props out of the water, so take that weather report with a grain of salt. Sitting in third Divisionally, watch out for this Naples team in Sarasota, where the team will surely finalize their quest to qualify for Nationals.

Captain Top Peterson and the Anytime crew were another team that was thwarted by Mother Nature on Saturday, but they bounced back and scored a 29.77 on Sunday to take fifth place honors. “We took it very, very easy on Saturday,” grinned Peterson. Conserving their energy paid off, fishing 45 miles south near the Tower the team found a spot with a good bite and the action was on. Their big king came calling at 9:30, hitting a runner on a long line “waaaaay back” in 70 feet of water. The team made quick work of the king, and they soon had a solid 29-pounder on ice. “We had three cut-offs before we got a single fish,” said Peterson, “but it was a good bite day.” One good bite day equals fifth place honors for the Anytime, who would like to thank the Evinrude warranty department for their support as well as Get Snookerd for bait, enabling them the win. Watch out for this Naples team at the National Championships next then at Sarasota at the Division 11 final.

Captain Mike Rinaldo and crew of the Never E-Nuff took sixth place with a 29.24-pounder on Sunday, naming Lauren Rinaldo Top Lady Angler. Hailing from Englewood, FL, the Rinaldos and Kent Allen, Spencer Bass and Chad Schroeder fish a 31 Yamaha powered Contender. This team is sitting in second Divisionally heading to Sarasota, so watch for them to be scaling some king to catch the Four Mary’s team. Next up is the Weldon boat, the Horizon Haze, with a 26.20-pound king. Captain Chuck, Chris, Jason and Jessica Weldon fish a 34’ Mercury powered Fountain out of St. Petersburg, FL. Eighth place fell to Captain Henley Shotwell and the Pelagic Magic, a 34’ Mercury powered Yellowfin. Captain Shotwell and his crew of Steve Sprigg and Eric Smith landed a 25.62 for the honors.

After sitting in second place with a 25.22 at the end of Saturday’s fishing, Captain Samuel Rife and the Get N Some crew fell to ninth place when they couldn’t find a fish on Sunday. Hailing from North Port, FL, Captain Rife, Rick Hardwicke and Tom Lawson fish a 32’ Yamaha powered Wellcraft. The Texas Aquatic rounds out the top ten with a 25.04-pounder. Captain Jim Vaughan, Scott Snively and Kathy Crawford fish a 36’ Yamaha powered Yellowfin out of Lakes Wales, FL.

In the Class of 23’ Team Wiltshire emerged as the boat of the weekend, landing an 18.53 for top Class honors. While no Class boats had weighed a fish on Saturday, Captain Andrew Gunn and crew knew they were out there, they had missed a couple of nice fish that day and weren’t about to repeat the mistake. On Sunday Captain Gunn, Will Geraghty and Marvin Schlabach headed the 23’ Yamaha powered Contender southwest and battled the elements for 26 miles to their chosen hard bottom spot. Their big fish of the weekend came at 9:15. “That fish hit as we were dropping back a bait getting ready to sink it. We were just about to clip it into the rigger and send it down when it hit a ten-inch runner on a Turbo Rattler,” reported Geraghty. “We’ve done real well with those Rattlers.” Captain Gunn took the rod, and while it was a quick five-minute fight, it wasn’t easy. “The fish dumped about a hundred yards of line on the first run. That area has a ton of crab traps, so we had to make quick work of it. It’s one of those spots you really need to get on top of them,” reported Gunn. With only one other hook-up that day, their 18-pounder would stand as the top Class of 23’ kingfish of the tournament, earning Captain Gunn and crew a plaque and payout courtesy of 1st Choice Marine. “Marco Island was tough for us, but this was a great tournament,” smiled Geraghty.

The Fin Addict made a 70–mile run to find their fish on Sunday, a 13.88. “We were fishing some live bottom off Marco. We started chumming anchored up, had two or three hits but couldn’t get hooked up. We hung tough for a little bit and finally got one on around noon,” reported Captain Tim Packard. Their 13-pounder snatched a blue runner on the top in about 70 feet of water. With Junior Angler Jake behind the wheel, the team made short work of the teenager. Captain Packard and Jake and Russ Jones had one more bite but couldn’t top their first catch, so they headed their 23’ Evinrude powered McKee Craft back to the scale. While that 13-pounder wasn’t the smoker the Fin Addict were looking for, they earn distinction by being one of the two Class boats that went out to fight the weather and still came back with a fish. More importantly, this points-fish propels Fin Addict to the top of the Class standings, the only Class of 23’ boat that has managed a fish in both Division 11 tournaments. With Packard and crew leading by over five pounds, last year’s Class Champion Legal Limit has got to be getting nervous.

The atmosphere was alive and festive at the Naples Contender King Classic awards ceremony Sunday evening, with crowds milling around the weigh-in stage eager to see the 21’ Contender / Yamaha / Loadmaster prize package given away. As John Zalud kept the crowd hopping on the microphone, Scott Hopkins, the General Manager of the Cedar Bay Marina, presented the Junior Anglers with the plaques courtesy of Cedar Bay. Next, Steve Sergent awarded the plaques and payouts for the Class of 23’ courtesy of the sponsoring dealer 1st Choice Marina. Then the Open Class awards were distributed until the big moment came and the Four Mary’s accepted the plaque and title from Marty Bistrong of Contender and Mike Collins of Yamaha for their brand new boat. It was a great spectacle, and good times were had by all. With two terrific Division 11 tournaments in the bag, look for the fun and excitement to continue at the Division’s conclusion in Sarasota.

Naples Final Standings

1. FOUR MARY’S 39.33

Fountain/Mercury

Pete Tsourakis
Harry Thomas
Keith Thomas
Joel Zalud


2. PROMARINEUSA.COM/HANNON’S CANNON 37.41

Yellowfin/Mercury, Yamaha, Evinrude

Kevin Hannon
Steve Rowley
Rick Cook


3. MAMBO KINGS 35.41

Contender/Yamaha

Alberto Abad
Brandon Lawson
Josh Hatcher


4. MIDNIGHT MADNESS 30.76

Midnight Express/Yamaha

Vic Vazquez
John Guitano
Mike Guitano
Sean Morton
Michael Guitano
Nicholas Guitano


5. ANYTIME 29.77

McKee Craft/Evinrude

Tom Peterson
Milton Shows
Greg Shanaburger


6. NEVER E-NUFF 29.24

Contender/Yamaha

Mike Rinaldo
Kent Allen
Lauren Rinaldo
Spencer Bass
Chad Schroeder


7. HORIZON HAZE 26.20

Fountain/Mercury

Chuck Weldon
Chris Weldon
Jason Weldon
Jessica Weldon


8. PELAGIC MAGIC 25.62

Yellowfin/Mercury

Henley Shotwell
Steve Sprigg
Eric Smith
Justin Smith


9. GET N SOME 25.22

Wellcraft/Yamaha

Samuel B. Rife
Rick Harkwicke
Tom Lawson


10. TEXAS AQUATIC 25.04

Yellowfin/Yamaha

Jim Vaughan
Scott Snively
Kathy Crawford


Class of 23’

1. TEAM WILTSHIRE 18.53

Contender/Yamaha

Andrew E. Gunn
Will Geraghty
Marvin Schlabach


2. FIN ADDICT 13.88

McKee Craft/Evinrude

Tim Packard
Russ Jones
Jake Jones



SKA Top Lady Angler
Lauren Rinaldo Never E-Nuff


SKA Top Junior Anglers
Sponsored by Cedar Bay Marina

1st Michael & Nicholas Guitano Midnight Madness
2nd Anthony Alvarez Suncoast Marine/Ventaja
3rd Sarah Stephenson Digestible