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LAST CALL HOOKS 48.48 IN CLEARWATER!
Hession and Crew Earn $10,000!

by Ian Warner

Division 6 anglers kicked off the 2007 Mercury Tournament Trail season at the Rotary Club of Clearwater 15th Annual Kingfish Tournament this April 13th and 14th. Over 160 boats arrived for their shot at the $10,000 grand prize, and true to tradition on the west coast of Florida, the teams were greeted with 15 to 20 mph winds and three- to five-foot seas. Captains were forced to reevaluate their plans and fishing locations for the event, and as it turned out, a change in plans was exactly what Captain Pat Hession and the Last Call team needed.

The seas were a little rough for us to go where we wanted, said Captain Hession. We tried, but no luck. Hession pulled a quick 180 and he and Bob Baver soon had the 25 Yamaha powered Bluewater on course for a spot 15 miles west of Johns Pass. Trolling in 50 feet of water, the Last Call managed to stir up a pair of small kings before the bite completely turned off.

It just went dead, reported Hession. We wanted to go the ship channel, but we knew the bulk of the fleet went there. Faced with a difficult decision the Last Call decided to stick it out, and the choice paid off at 2:00 when their tournament-winner hit a blue runner on the long line. Captain Hession wasnt taking any chances and he grabbed the rod himself as Baver cleared the lines, and after a short fight the team had a nearly 50-pound slab flopping on the deck.

At the scales the Last Call team learned they had the lead, and by 5:00 Hession knew the $10,000 check was his. The teams only scare come from non-member boat No Name, who weighted a 42.87 for second place. This was the Last Calls first win in a SKA event, and their biggest king to date. Congratulations, guys, a 10-pound lead in the Open Class is a great way to start off the season.

Lady Angler Deb Crisp reeled in a 37.56-pounder on the Hooker to take third place and SKA Top Lady Angler honors. Weve been fishing the ship channel in Tampa Bay for years now. We always will, reported Crisp. We call it Our water. Shes not boasting, she caught a 29.56 at the same spot at the Boaters World Clearwater event last year.

But the Hooker team was having a tough time of it in their water until 1:15 when a lady fish on the long line was hit. With Deb working the rod the crew made short work of the king. After a quick gaff we put her in the bag and tried for a bigger fish, continued Crisp, but no cigar. At the scales their king posted a 37.56-pound weight, setting the team up for a successful Division 6 year.

Captain Todd Guarnieri and the Fish Bonz team are up next, fourth place with a 33.45-pound king. Weve been fishing these waters for a few years, so with the Gulf being so sporty we went with the bunch of boats in the ship channel, reported Guarnieri. Joined by Mike Bjurmark, E.J. Hodgson and Kristen Sullivan, the team had a long wait on the 28 Yamaha powered Stamas.

At 11:00 we had our first and only it of the day, but we made it happen, continued Guarnieri, who was fastest to the rod. A ribbon fish set at 22 feet down was snatched while trolling in 55 feet of water, and the Fish Bonz team soon had their 33-pounder in the box.

Team Everglades rounds out the tournaments top five with a 30.96-pounder. Captain Nate Thomas, Eric Moser, Jack Vasilaros, Harv Hunt and Chris Bovis fish a 22 Yamaha powered Everglades, and decided to set up in the shipping channel with the majority of the field for the days fishing. The three- to five-foot seas kept us from heading out to the Gulf and where we wanted to go, reported Thomas. After a long morning and no action, the decision was made to make a move to the Skyway Bridge. Trolling in 42 feet of water a lady fish halfway down was hit, and the Captain took care of the 30-pounder in short order. We stuck it out and tried for a bigger one, but could only fine one more teenager, said Thomas.

With no separate Class of 23 category at the event, Team Everglades took fifth place overall and a check for $1,000. This is a great start in the Division 6 Class race, the team fished Division 10 last year, but it looks like theyll be back for some more west coast kingfish action now.

Captain Brian Hasson and the Knot Me team took seventh place overall and were the SKAs second place Class of 23 boat. Captain Brian and Billy Hasson and John Molfetto fish a 23 Mercury powered Fountain out of Seminole, Florida, and they landed a 28.96 for the position. This team took second in Class in Division 11 last year; it looks like they may make an impression on Division 6 in 2007.

The Reel Gator rounds out the SKAs Class of 23 top three. Captain Mike Smith, Bruce Corwin, Crystal Linardo Corwin and David Faircloth teamed on the 23 Mercury powered Fountain to reel in a 25.02-pounder and take 14th place overall. The Reel Gator is starting the year off right: the team has a 50-pound aggregate in the Pros fishing a Class boat and they are sitting in third in west coast Floridas Class race.

In Division 6s Junior Angler race Joshua Heavenridge took top honors when he and the Spectre Yanmar / Top Gun team landed a 28.07. Second place went to Dave Mistretta, Jr. for the 17.98-pounder caught on Jaws Too. The Cutting Edges Maddison and Chelsea Newburg shared third place Junior Angler honors with a 16.95 king.

The second leg of the Division 6 Mercury Tournament Trail at the Boaters World Tournament of Champions in Treasure Island will be held April 27th through the 29th. Team ProMarineUSA.com / Penny Wise will be defending their Open Class title, and Class National Champion Bandit has the Class of 23 title to worry about. Both teams zeroed here, the pressure will be on as they have some catching up to do. Keep reading Angler for more exciting west coast Florida fishing!