Calling all fishermen: The weekend of 8/9 – 8/12/2012 marks third anniversary of the Cape Fear Sailfish Classic Fishing Tournament.
The tournament has a new home out of Wrightsville Beach Marina, Marina Street. The good folks there have agreed to help to make the tournament bigger and better for the enjoyment all and for the cause of the primary beneficiary, Cy’s World Foundation.
Bobby Bailey, who was part of the winning team in 2011, helped make this happen. Baileys Maine and Sam Clary of the WB Marina have been most helpful in this transition.
The tournament had a successful launch, thanks to the Ocean Isle Fishing Center, and Rickey Beck’s tireless works to post and advertise the tournaments, and of course, the McMullen family owners of Ocean Isle Fishing Center.
It was decided that this new venue would offer the opportunity to raise the most money, both for the participants to enjoy as prize money, and in particular the Foundation started to honor the memory of Cy Garber, who died tragically in November of 2010 at the tender age of 17.
The tournament founders, Will and Bob Newell, stress that they will maintain a family atmosphere, first class food and fun, and that fisherman may fish the same inshore boundaries, and that a weigh in and camera drop will still be maintained at Ocean Isle.
So fishermen, hold the date, make plans to fish in this tournament, and call about any opportunities that you would like to pursue to make the tournament a more pleasurable experience.
Tournaments like this are a dying breed, started by recreational fisherman for recreational fisherman, with decent prize money, a heaping helping of personal pride and bragging rights, and long on fun and camaraderie.
Net proceeds will benefit The Cy’s World Foundation!
The CFSC was started by dedicated recreational fisherman for recreational fisherman.
This event is designed to promote fun and those who want to pursue the challenge of locating these beautiful species and practice the art of proper bait presentation, the use of “teasers” top attract and locate the fish, and the art of “drop back” with circle hooks to promote a effective hook up and safe release of the fish.
Sailfish are perhaps the fastest species of fish, they are known to “free jump” and to “ball baits” as well as to “slap the baits” with their bills in order to stun their prey. When the fish picks up the bait, typically the angler wants to see the bite, optimally you want the reel in free spool or very light drag.
When the fish picks it up, one should feel the speed of the reel pick up and apply gently pressure with the thumb to the spool. Once the fish has sped away for 5 seconds, it’s time to “lock up” the drag and watch as the sailfish makes an acrobatic leap in an all-out attempt to throw the hook.
A proper circle hook-set will occur in the corner of the sails jaw. After a 10-30 minute fight, the sails, which all generally measure about 35-70 lbs and somewhere around 72-88 inches in length, should be boatside ready for the mate to work the leader to the boat. This is truly “hunting for fish”, with current, temperature change, and the presence of large schools of bait being very important.
These fish are known to come inshore during late summer and congregate in the areas around the Tower, the Horseshoe, the Jungle, and anywhere which holds bait.
Because of the rig you will be fishing, there is less chance of other predator’s fish, such as sharks, barracuda, or kings taking the bait. Dolphinfish, however, are frequent acrobatic visitors and great eating!
For more info visit the official site for the event at: https://www.capefearsailfishclassic.com
