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By LARRY BLUE
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 4, 2000
Capt. Dan Hibbeln on the Pescadora traveled 130 miles into the gulf to catch a 150.6-pound yellowfin tuna, a blue marlin and a white marlin to win the Old Salt's 29th annual All-Release Billfish Loop Tournament.
Hibbeln was fishing in more than 1,000-foot depths when he caught and released both marlin.
Capt. Fred Clauser on Porolfred caught and released the only other blue marlin in the tournament to finish in second place. Capt. Peter Johnson and Bill Currie's On Course fishing team tied for third. Johnson released a white marlin, and Currie's son, Billy, released a sailfish estimated to weigh 75 pounds and a 39.4-pound wahoo.
All billfish in the tournament had to be released. Tuna, wahoo and dolphin were accepted at the weigh-in.
- Larry Blue charters the Niki Joe out of Madeira Beach. Call (727) 397-3773, or e-mail at Captlblue@aol.com.