Monster Wahoo at the Challenge

November 10, 2008, Bimini Bay, Bahamas - The 2008-2009 Wahoo Challenge started off with incredible weather and even more incredible fishing.  Teams came from across the state and the Bahamas to compete for $50,000.00 in cash.

Bimini Bay Resort was the headquarters for the first leg of the Challenge.  The resort rolled out the red carpet with a great captain’s party and even better awards dinner.  The cool weather and calm seas made everyone excited about the fishing.  Even the threat of a distant hurricane did not deter the anglers from giving 110%.

The first day had one of the most incredible hauls we have seen in the Series.  Every team brought in plenty of fish… big fish.  “Leon Medical Center” hauled up a 50-pounder.  Not to be outdone “Masada” weighed in a nice 52-pounder. Then the “Fulunga” crew bested them with a 53-pounder.  And just when you thought you had seen all the big fish for the day, “Kimbuktu” posted a 54-pounder.  “That’s it” the crowd thought, but the weigh-in was not over.  The “Zephyros” boys rolled in with a cart full of big fish. Their haul included wahoo of 57 pounds, 59 pounds, and 60 pounds.  They weighed in the heaviest three fish of the day and they led the tournament with a combined weight of four fish totaling 222.90 pounds. That’s an average of 55 pounds! But remember, these teams are the best wahoo teams in the world and there was one more day of fishing to be had.

The second day held hope, but how could these teams improve on the first day’s numbers?  Here is a hint about tournament fishing: if a team gets back to the weigh-in very early and they want to wait to weigh their fish, it means that they have a great catch.  Such was the case with “Ocean Alley.”  They arrived early and waited patiently while each boat took their fish to the scales.  Newcomers “Smoke Stack” brought a beautiful 55-pound ‘hoo to the scale.  “Zephyros” weighed in an assortment of 40-pound fish, but it did not help them improve on their first day’s catch.  “Kimbuktu” also weighed in some nice fish, but no help to their overall total.  “Fishin-a-Loan” did improve their fist day’s total with a nice 56-pound wahoo.  The crowd was still waiting for the “Ocean Alley” team to unveil their catch.  As they unloaded the boat, each fish looked bigger than the next. Slob after slob hit the dock and everyone was wondering if they could take first place with just one day’s catch.  First fish on the scale went 46 pounds. Next fish broke the 50 mark and reached 53 pounds.  Their third wahoo was a little thicker at 57 pounds.  And the last monster tipped the scales at 70 pounds!  The “Zephyros” crew was doing some quick math in their heads. “Could they have beaten our 222-pound mark,” they thought?  When the score sheets went into the computer the answer was revealed: 227.1 pounds!  “Ocean Alley” had edged out “Zephyros” by 4.2 pounds. “Fishin-a-Loan” took third place with 179 pounds.  “Kimbuktu” held on to fourth with 170 pounds.  And “Fulunga” cruised to fifth with 156 pounds.

Part 2 of the Series takes place in January in Grand Bahama.  With fish we have seen this year we expect the second leg to break some records.  For more information on the tournaments check out the site at www.WahooChallenge.com.