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© St. Petersburg Times, published May 6, 2002
Nina Lupini and Debbie Gordon struggled with the heavy fish bag as they climbed out of the Hi Caes as Rich Gordon and Leo Plenski waited for the fish to be weighed at Gators on the Pass. The crowd hushed, then screamed as the 47.04-pound kingfish came out of the bag and was weighed at the 11th Annual Suncoast Kingfish Classic Tournament over the weekend.
The team fished about 40 miles offshore but had little luck until 2 p.m. when the big king hit a slow trolled blue runner. Rich Gordon was on the rod and landed the fish after 35 minutes.
Kirk Annis and Mike Wallace on Tempest Fin took second with a 41.04-pound king caught 18 miles southwest of Johns Pass. Tommy Pease on Challenger brought in a 39.28 king for third. He caught it near channel markers 6 and 7. Zoea Norvel took the helm as Pease fought the fish while a freighter bore down on their 23-foot boat.
Zak Cook, 9, on C Hunter won the youth division and was fourth with a 36.88-pound king. He had his fractured right arm in a cast. In 1999 he won the youth division of King of the Beach.
Vanessa Slade on Slade Em won the women's division with a 22.4.
There were 152 boats entered, with payout to 15th place.
-- To report tournament information, contact Capt. Larry Blue at (727) 397-3773 or e-mail CaptLBlue@aol.com. To find out how to get tournament results in the paper, call 893-8123.