By OBX Today and Capt. Dave Lear, PCBGT.com
The 32nd Alice Kelly Memorial Ladies Only Billfish Tournament set a new record with 145 boats and 900 anglers registered to fish the one-day, release only billfish tournament based at Pirates Cove Marina in Manteo.
New this year was a winner-take all jackpot for the most billfish released, along with a cash prize for the heaviest dolphin. The ladies released 55 billfish and weighed 34 gamefish.
The Alice Kelly raises money for Outer Banks cancer support groups, with this year’s money going to the Interfaith Community Outreach’s Cancer fund. Based on entry fees, $16,650 will be donated with more donations still being collected.
The spirit of Alice Kelly was on full display at Sunday night’s award’s ceremony as Tarheel was presented with the top team honors.
With Capt. John Bayliss at the helm of his 62-foot custom Bayliss Tarheel, team members Tiffany Day, Carson Flatt, Mandy Savage and Theresa Honeycutt, all Outer Banks locals, released one blue marlin and three whites during Sunday’s fishing.
In addition to the Top Team Trophy, Tarheel also won the winner-take-all Billfish Jackpot prize of $42,500. Day earned the Paula Stansky Award for Angling Excellence for her blue and one white. Jorge Carrillo and Moose Skjaerpe are the mates aboard Tarheel.
“Today was my first time offshore and I released my first billfish,” said Theresa Honeycutt afterwards. “It was a beautiful day and the crew was absolutely amazing. I’m ready to go again next year.”
Bi-Op-Sea, a 59 Spencer Yacht based in Manteo, was named the second-place boat based on two blues and one white marlin. Wendy Hayes and Danielle Stine scored the blues, while Cara Sumners added the white. Capt. Jesse Granitzki runs the boat, with Chris Stine working the ‘pit. Kay Hall, Mary Dembosky and Taryn Hall were also part of the team.
Wrapped Up, a 62 Spencer, earned third-place honors with two blues wound in by Kelly Kirkpatrick and Corinne Hanna with team members Serena Wilson and Tonya Love-Cheatham offering encouragement. The Ladies Love Pink team was guided by Capt. David Dalfo and mate Marshall Busha.
Earning trophies and rounding out the field were Obsession (55 Sheldon Midgett/Capt. Jeff Ross) and Teaz ‘Em (54 Hudson/Capt. Mark Barton) with two billfish releases apiece.
The heaviest tuna was caught by Laura Midget aboard Al’s Gals, a 53 Omie Tillet. That yellowfin tipped the scales at 47.7 pounds.
Allison Spencer, competing on Small But Reel, a 20-foot Maycraft center console, boated the only wahoo of the day, a 24-pounder. Multiple dolphin were weighed in, but Anna Daniels scored the top bull, a fish that weighed 30.3 pounds. Daniels and her family team on
Yellowfin, a 56 Buddy Cannady, won the dolphin jackpot prize of $51,850 for that catch. Jeff Garner runs the Yellowfin and mates Hunter Garner and Jack Huddle share cockpit duties.
“This was my first time fishing the Alice Kelly,” Daniels explained. “I also released a white marlin and my sister released one, too. My boyfriend was one of the mates and his dad ran the boat, so we had a great team.”
Addison Thomas, a 13-year-old angler from Camden, North Carolina, won the Lucy B. Gaddy Junior Angler Scholarship Award after releasing a sailfish, good for 100 points. Thomas was fishing on Mornin’ Glory, a 28 Carolina Classic run by Capt. John Abel.
TOP BOATS
1st Tarheel, Bayliss 62 — Capt. John Bayliss – 4 fish / 450.00 pts.
2nd Bi-Op-Sea, Spencer Yachts 59 — Capt. Jesse Granitzki – 3 fish / 400.00 pts.
3rd Wrapped Up, Spencer Yachts 62 — Capt. Dave Dalfo – 2 fish / 300.00 pts.
4th Obsession, Sheldon Midgett 55 — Capt. Jeff Ross – 2 fish / 250.00 pts.
5th Teaz ’em, Hudson 54 — Capt. Mark Barton – 2 fish / 250.00 pts.
BILLFISH JACKPOT
Tarheel – $42,500.00
TOP DOLPHIN
1st Yellowfin, Buddy Cannady 56 — Capt. Jeff Garner, angler Anna Daniels – 30.30 lbs.
DOLPHIN JACKPOT
Yellowfin – $51,850.00
TOP TUNA
1st Al’s Gals, Omie Tillet 53 — Capt. Roger Parker, angler Laura Midget – 47.70 lbs.
TOP WAHOO
1st Small but Reel, May-Craft 20 — Capt. Spencer McGill, angler Allison Spencer – 24.00 lbs.
PAULA STANSKY AWARD FOR ANGLING EXCELLENCE
1st Tarheel, Bayliss 62 — Capt. John Bayliss, angler Tiffany Day – 2 fish / 250.00 pts.
LUCY B GADDY JUNIOR ANGLER SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
1st Mornin’ Glory, Carolina Classic 28 — Capt. John Abel, angler Addison Thomas – 1 fish / 100.00 pts.