QUE MAS AND MEGA BUCKS ARE THE BIG WINNERS IN THE 2008 BERMUDA BIG GAME CLASSIC

Visiting boat Que Mas won the 2008 Bermuda Big Game Classic with two blue marlin releases on Day One and two more blue marlin releases on Day Two, for a total of 2,000 points. This team is absolutely red-hot. Quite unbelievably, they have now finished in first or second place in four of the past five Triple Crown tournaments, and they have added this win to their victory in the 2007 Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament. When you consider they are up against an average of 40 or more of the top Atlantic boats and crew per tournament, this is an astonishing level of consistency. Que Mas finished runner-up in the final 2007 Triple Crown standings and currently have a comfortable lead in their quest to be crowned 2008 Bermuda Triple Crown Champions. Their winnings in the 2008 Classic included $41,400 for first place, plus $13,800 for most billfish release points and $16,000 for the Marlin Magazine Manufacturer's Cup, for a total of $71,200. Que Mas also received the traditional Vanmark Blue Marlin money clips, trophies from King Sailfish Mounts, bronze sculpture from Geoffrey Smith, artwork from Steve Goione and their name on the perpetual Geoffrey Smith trophy. Que Mas' win earned American Custom Yachts the top yacht manufacturer award. Team Que Mas also received an invitation to compete in the IGFA Offshore World Championship in Cabo San Lucas in May 2009.

The big-money winners were Capt. Sinclair Lambe, Alfred Basden and Canadian angler Geoff Coate aboard Mega Bucks. They weighed an 832-pound blue marlin on Day One, which was the largest of the tournament. They went all in on the entries and thus were the winner of the largest Blue Marlin Jackpot of $108,000 and the Day One Marlin Jackpot of $38,000. The team also added two white marlin releases on Day Two and a blue marlin release on Day Three, for a total of 1,732 points, which was good enough for second place overall and another $20,700. Total cash winnings for team Mega Bucks amounted to $166,700! Mega Bucks received a trophy from King Sailfish Mounts and a Steve Goione print.

Third place and $13,800 went to Scott Robins and Capt. Dave Morris on Weez in the Keys, who earned a score of 1,700 points. Weez won the Day One Release Jackpot worth $27,333 for their two blues and a white on Day One. They also won the first blue-release award worth $1,500 and a bronze sculpture from Geoffrey Smith, compliments of Joe Davis Wealth Management. Total cash winnings equaled $42,633; they also received a trophy from King Sailfish Mounts and artwork from Steve Goione.

Reel Addiction, coming off their win in the Blast with Capt. Cragin Curtis, Angler Foster Darling, Jamie Todd, Carter Frith, Jeremy White and Jonathan Reiss, earned the Day Two Billfish Release jackpot by catching two blues, which earned the red-hot team another $27,333.33 and second place in the Triple Crown standings through the Classic leg.   

Bree, with Capt. Bryce Garvey and owner Randy Ringhaver, had the big-fish luck on Day Two by catching a 658-pound blue for angler Denny Doyle, which won the team $38,000 on the daily.

The third day of fishing was affected by Hurricane Bertha, but that didn't stop team Jammer Capt. Robert Richter, who won the Day Three release jackpot by angler Jim Floyd catching a blue and white, earning the team $27,333.34.  

There were no blues boated on the final day, so the daily marlin jackpot rolled to the first two days' winners, Mega Bucks and Bree. 

The crew on Gilbert Lopes' Touchdown with angler Ricky Sousa won the game-fish prize with a 58.1-pound wahoo worth $6,900.

The High Point Junior Angler prize went to Spencer Watson on Anita Jean for his two blue marlin releases worth 1000.points.

High Point Lady Angler went to Elaine Jones on Mama Who for her three blues and one white release worth 1,700 points.

High point angler went to Geoff Coate on Mega Bucks for his one blue, two white marlin releases and 832-pound boated blue for a total of 1,732 points. 

In total, there were 46 blues and 23 whites released as well as three blues boated over the 500-pound minimum: Mega Bucks' 832-pounder, Bree's 658-pounder and Lone Star's 657-pounder. This year, the story of the Classic was one of big fish, with the third-day bite hampered by Hurricane Bertha. 

The final tournament catch results are three eligible blue marlin boated (832 pounds, 658 pounds, 657 pounds); 46 blue marlin released; 23 white marlin released. The final standings are as follows:

1)   Que Mas - 4 blue releases - 2,000 points and cash winnings of $71,200
2)   Mega Bucks - 1 blue boated, 832 pounds; 1 blue release; 2 white releases -1,732 points and cash winnings of $166,700
3)   Weez in the Keys - 3 blue releases; 1 white release - 1,700 points and cash winnings of $42,633
4)   Mama Who - 3 blue releases; 1 white release - 1,700 points
5)   Queen of Hearts - 3 blue releases - 1,500 points
6)   Lone Star - 1 blue boated, 657 pounds; 1 blue release - 1,157 points
7)   Anita Jean - 2 blue releases - 1,000 points
8)   Reel Addiction - 2 blue releases - 1,000 points and cash winnings of $27,333
9)   Playmate - 2 blue releases - 1,000 points
10) Reel Hot - 2 blue releases
11) Sportsmann - 1 blue release; 2 white releases – 900 points
12) Great Escape - 1 blue release; 2 white releases
13) Tenacious - 1 blue release; 1 white release – 700 points
14) Spencer 66 O'Hana - 1 blue release; 1 white release
15) Overproof - 1 blue release; 1 white release
16) Attitude - 1 blue release; 1 white release
17) Perfect Parts - 1 blue release; 1 white release
18) Jammer - 1 blue release; 1 white release 700 points and cash winnings of $27,333
19) Bree - 1 blue boated, 658 pounds, and cash winnings of $38,000
20) Fa-La-Me - 1 blue release – 500 points
21) Treasure Isle - 1 blue release
22) Paradise One - 1 blue release
23) Blue Chip - 1 blue release
24) Smooth Operator - 1 blue release
25) Wound Up - 1 blue release
26) Triple Play - 1 blue release
27) J.A.C.S. - 1 blue release
28) El Cazador - 1 blue release
29) Challenger - 2 white releases – 400 points
30) Tease Em - 280 points
31) Touchdown - 1 white release – 200 points
32) Kerry D - 1 white release
33) 7th Wave - 1 white release
34) Margin Call - 1 white release
35) Runabout - 1 white release
36) Reel Lax - 1 white release
37) Indigo Blue - 1 white release

 

Whether you're an individual or a team, if you want to participate, please don't hesitate to contact me.  I look forward to helping you with all your tournament needs.

All the best,
Dan Jacobs
Tournament Producer
(407) 571-4680 email: dan.jacobs@bonniercorp.com