FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Al Behrendt TEL: 954-920-7877 FAX: 954-925-1033 e-mail: bwmo@albehrendt.com
Late Charging Juel Marie Wins Bahamas White Marlin Open
Up until the final hour of this year’s Bahamas White Marlin Open, it looked like the Dixie Devil was destined to be the winner. With 750 points, the Dixie Devil led it’s closest competitor, Bodacious, by 150 points. With thirty-five minutes remaining in the tournament, Juel Marie reported that they were hooked-up with a double-header of white marlin. With a white marlin release on day two, Juel Marie, a 54-foot Hatteras, had 300 points and two more white releases would mean 600 additional points. The quick release of Juel Marie’s first white brought the team even with Bodacious and the release of Juel Marie’s winning fish put them ahead of Dixie Devil and came with only minutes remaining in the tournament. Juel Marie’s team captain, Dugan McLaughlin from Knoxville, Tennessee, was presented with a Bodo Muche Bronze trophy by David Ritchie of Title Sponsor Hatteras Yachts. Mike Murray awarded a Murray Products Step Box to the winners. Noted artist, Steve Goione presented an original painting of the Juel Marie to McLaughlin. The Top Crew awards included trophies sponsored by Lewis Marine Supply and gift certificates from Maui Jim Sunglasses. Juel Marie finished in second place at last year’s Bahamas White Marlin Open. Dixie Devil released three blue marlin, three sailfish and one white marlin to take 2nd Place. Team captain, Jeff Futch of Sebring, Florida was presented with a Randy Rich designed trophy sponsored by Hatteras MarineMax. Despite two days of good fishing, team Bodacious was unable to add any points on the last day and finished Third with 600 points. Pat Thomas of Atlanta, Georgia accepted the Randy Rich designed trophy from David Ritchie.
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Late Charging Juel Marie Wins Bahamas White Marlin Open Page 2
For the three day, light tackle tournament sponsored by Hatteras Yachts and MarineMax Yachts & Brokerage, the fleet of 24 boats competing in the Bahamas White Marlin Open caught a total of 30 billfish in this all release tournament – 9 white marlin, 9 blue marlin, 12 sailfish. Release points were awarded using time and date-stamped digital images to validate the release time and the species of the billfish. Affidavits signed by all participants fishing on the team further confirmed that the fish was released in accordance with tournament rules. In the “Fun Fish” Categories, the largest dolphin/mahi-mahi trophy was taken by Mistress which brought a 61-pound fish to the weigh scale. For the second year in a row, Fisherman Joe-Kel won the tuna category weighing a 38-pound yellowfin tuna. The Fun Fish Categories have a 25-pound minimum weight requirement. The Randy Rich designed trophies for the “Fun Fish” Categories are sponsored by Gulfstream International Airlines and were presented by Tom McFall, Chairman of the Board. The highlight of the Bahamas White Marlin Open’s social events was the 2nd Annual TABASCO® Recipe Contest. The distinguished field of judges, which included TABASCO hospitality chefs Lionel and Peggy Robin, had a real challenge selecting the top three recipes from the twelve entries. The entries were judged upon presentation, taste and best use of TABASCO products. Top Prize, a Majestic 15-inch LCD Television, was won by Jason "Tiny" Wolcott of the Juel Marie. The recipe was TABASCO Dolphin Rollup. The Lady Karr placed Second with Lady Karr Chili. Fisherman Jo-Kel placed third with Judy McIlhenny’s Crawfish Etouffee. Title Sponsors Hatteras MarineMax, hosted their popular “Hatteras Hangover Clinic,” providing coffee, espresso, bagels, aspirin and goodies each morning at 6:00 am on fishing days. In addition to their active participation aboard the Hatterascal, both sponsors hosted the opening night’s dinner featuring the Cajun cooking of Lionel and Peggy Robin at Treasure Cay’s Spinnaker restaurant. The Bahamas White Marlin Open, a total release tournament in the billfish categories, awards 300 points for the target species, white marlin; 100 points for blue marlin, and 50 points for sailfish and spearfish. Further information can be found the Bahamas White Marlin Open website: www.bahamaswhitemarlinopen.com or you can contact the organizers at Al Behrendt Enterprises, 2 Oakwood Blvd., Suite 195, Hollywood, FL 33020 – phone 954-920-7877; fax 954-925-1033; email bwmo@albehrendt.com.