A slow bite had the weigh-in scales curiously quiet on Day One for the 185 boats in the 17th annual Key West Boats Fishing for Miracles tournament, but Juggernaut made Day Two one to remember.
The crew of the Beaufort-based boat called ahead to family members to make sure they got to the weigh-in, and after an hour’s run to Ripley Yacht Club, their 34.1-pound king nailed down the $25,000 first-prize money.
Angler Jim Roberts said the winning king took a live mullet fished well behind the 31-foot Contender, and crewman A.C. Harvey gaffed it after a 20-minute fight.
It was the only king of the day for Juggernaut, captained by Bert Harvey, which also won the 2007 FFM.
Cool Cat, the Day One leader, finished second with a 32.4-pound king. The fish came from 85 feet of water 30 miles out of Bluffton, with angler Curt Warrington reporting that the fish ate a frozen ribbonfish and put up a bruising 10-minute fight. Capt. Chris Prince gaffed him clean though and they knew they had a money fish, because they had caught just one small king all day.
James Island’s Bow Movement took thidr with a 32.2-pound king caught the first dady. The king hit an artificial ribbonfish off Folly Beach, and angler Jason Sawadske had the fish at the gunwals of the 26-foot Key West in 10 minutes.
Mangler, a 33-foot Contender out of Charleston, took fourth with a 32-pound king caught on Day Two. Blue Runner, a 33-foot Contender from Pawley’s Island, was fifth with a Day One fish that weighed 31.3 pounsd. It hit a live menhaden in 70 feet of water, and Capt. Craig Hoover handled the duties on the rod.
Top Youth Angler went to 7-year-old Coleman Jenkins, who fished with Team Charleston Rigging and caught a 25.2-pound king. Andrew Olson was runnerup with a 24.7-pound king caught fishign with his father, Capt. Robert Olsen, on the Knot @ Work.
Carolyn Hubbard was Top Lady Angler for her 30.7-pound king, caught fishing on Capt. Michael Hubbard’s Mikey Likes It.
Fish Hunter, captained by Melvin Knight, was the top boat under 23 feet with a 31.1-pound king.
The Fishing For Miracles tournament benefits the M.U.S.C. Children’s Hospital and is run by S.C.CCA.
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