Day 1 of the Contender Avalon Billfish Classic started early, 5:15 to be exact. The first hour was spent setting up the doc, the radio and trying to find a hot cup of Joe. Our java savior, John Gabel, came to the doc in his 30ft BlackWatch Pescador, loaded up with hot java and donuts - a true am savior.
The 7am shotgun start went off without a hitch as all the yachts took off into the deep ocean blue of the Pacific. The first hook up came two hours later at 9am by a team in the No Fear division - El Diablo.
Shortly after one pro team got hot, Chiquelin, hooking 3 and verifying the release of two. Other early action included Bite Me, Quality Time (hooked up at the time of writing this blog), Snake Dancer, and Excessive.
Two lucky teams also took home plush prizes from our generous sponsors:
At 10am Reel Nice and Easy took home a year subscription to PCS, a 7 strand marlin lure, one pound spool of Berkley line and a Berkley Fluoro Carbon Leder.
At High Noon, Quality Time won a 250.00 dollar gift cerficate to the Avalon Fuel Dock courtesy of Contender Boats.
Part 2 of Day 1 (High Noon to 4)
The wind has picked up, the sun is beeming down and the marlin are bitting on Bite Me, the first hit of the afternoon. Just one short hour later, the East Coast boys - Snake Dancer hooked up again. Shortly after Snake Dancer got bit the West Coast came in strong with Bad Company getting a strike. The pros are starting to heat up in the afternoon sun. From 12 to 1:30 3 fish hooked up in Juliet 5 with Hotel 6 following up as the other hot spot to find marlin in the open blue of the Pacific.
The 2 to 3 time slot had things going slow on the water. Hook ups have been few and far between and with an hour of fishing to go it looks like the icon, Beak and his crew on Chiquelin may take day one in the pros with Snake Dancer waltzing up to a close second. In the No Fear division, El Diablo is leading the way on day one with Quality Time close behind and Bite Me nipping at their heals.
At the 3 o clock hour Chiquelin hooks up another, but will they bring it in to keep the lead in time and catches. Contender 1, from the East Coast hooked up in J 5 and with this wind. This East Coast Tournament Teams is loving the wind, "a great day to fly a kite." Keeping up with Chiquelin, Snake Dancer hooks up striking back with some East Coast skills.
After 4 when the teams come in it is up to Grant Hunner, Tournament Director, to verify all the catches and releases on video. One fatal mistep and a team may loose a crucial catch and release dropping them off the leader board.
A special thanks to all of our sponsors and anglers.
Come back tomorrow for Day 2. Covering more catch and release action, a leader update and continued action from the front lines at Catalina.
For more information on future tournaments go to www.catalinaclassics.com
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