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By LARRY BLUE
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 7, 2001
Sarasota fishing team Hammer EM took a right turn and headed offshore 40-50 miles on Saturday morning.
It endured the unfavorable conditions in hopes of finding a king mackerel for the 149-boat Suncoast Kingfish Classic at Gators Cafe and Saloon on John's Pass. It was a long wait in the rough seas, and the anglers were not sure they made the right move until about 1 p.m. when a fish finally struck.
Brian Alstrom picked up the rod, but the fish had fouled the line in the downrigger. It was a touch-and-go situation until he recovered some line. Eventually, the fish was close enough for Ron Burdell to gaff it. During the 21/2-hour return to the dock, Darin Wingett took a fall on the deck, cutting his jaw. The fish weighed 46.02 pounds, and the team was so confident it had a winner it didn't bother to fish Sunday. It ended up winning by more than 5 pounds. Steve Humphries of Team Hurricane, winner of last year's tournament, said his team found its second-place fish in about 43 feet of water off the Pasco shoreline. As the fish hit, the team knew time was running out to make the weigh-in. Jimmy Barber put the pressure on the fish, and Steve Kane connected on a long shot with the gaff and grabbed the 34.52-pound king in the tail. Team Legend fished the Indian Shores Reef for Mike Gaby's 33.98-pounder for third place.
Rhonda Morris, fishing on Sparky's Machine, caught a 30.32-pounder to win the women's division and finish seventh overall. Joe Maisano, fishing aboard John's Pass Marina, caught a 29.78-pound king to win the youth division.
- To report tournament information, contact Larry Blue at (727) 397-3773, or e-mail at CaptLBlue@aol.com.