Capt. Bob Lewis Boat Center-Yamaha Billfish Challenge - March 3 & 4, 2007
 |
 |
Quick Links |
Tournament Dates: |
Captain's Meeting:
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Fishing Days:
March 3 & 4, 2007 |
Events Calendar: |
 Checkout
the list of event times and dates: captain’s meeting, fishing days, awards
ceremony and the Kid’s Fishing Challenge. Click
here
|
Prizes & Awards: |
We paid out over $143,000 in 2006! Checkout this
year’s prize and award divisions: Billfish Division, Fun Fish, The Challenge,
Fort Knox & Pirate’s Chest. Click
here
|
About Us: |
The Capt. Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge is an invitational
event limited to 65 paid boats. Last year’s participants must respond by
January 15, 2006, with their intentions of fishing the event. The remaining available
positions will be filled from the waiting list on a first come basis until the
65- paid boat limit is fulfilled. Read More |
|
 |
 |
|
Above It All
By Sam White Eric West
Courtesy of the World Billfish Series
 While
the technique of using a kite to deploy a fisherman’s baited line can trace
its origins back to the ancient Chinese and the innovative Pacific islanders,
it was Capt. Bob Lewis that really defined the use of the fishing kite in the
sailfish-rich waters off southern Florida. By using a kite to suspend a frisky
live bait, Capt. Bob soon realized the inherent benefits of such a technique (in
fact there are many). First, the kite kept the bait swimming in frantic circles
very close to the ocean’s surface and within easy reach of the sailfish
and other gamefish that he was targeting. It also kept the heavier leader material
suspended vertically above the bait and out of the water, leaving less to spook
a wary adversary. And by fishing the kite on the upwind side of the vessel, it
allowed a larger spread of additional lines to be deployed, covering a much larger
swath of ocean.
Today, the technique of kite fishing has been adapted to many far-flung locations
such as North Carolina for yellowfin tuna, the canyons of the Northeast for bluefin
tuna and even the partyboats of California on their long-range trips lasting many
days off the Pacific coast of Mexico. But its roots in modern fishing lie firmly
attached to the south Florida region and Capt. Bob Lewis. Today’s anglers
have modified the original kites to fly in a variety of winds, even attaching
helium balloons in order to put their baits aloft in the calmest of conditions.
Flying multiple kites, done by weighting the edges of the kites so they fly apart
from each other, has also become standard fare as has fishing multiple lines from
each kite in order to cover even more ground in search of sailfish. As an early
innovator of kite fishing, Capt. Bob would smile at these modern twists upon his
original theme.
 The
Capt. Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge was formed in 1993 and incorporated in 1998,
obtaining 501 c. (3) status as a nonprofit organization in January of 2000. It
was named in honor of Capt. Bob Lewis, who passed away in January, 1997. The first
tournament, planned on short notice, registered only five boats but was still
deemed a success to those who participated. Expanding each year, in 2002 the tournament
became an invitational and was limited to the first 60 paid entries, expanding
to 65 entries in 2005. The proceeds benefit the youth of south Florida through
educational and fishing/diving programs, with the tournament proceeds distributed
to beneficiaries that exemplify the ideals of the tournament. Total contributions
to various youth programs have reached nearly $300,000 as of 2006. All tournament
directors and committee members serve on a volunteer basis with the exception
of the executive director.
One new change in the event for 2007 was the introduction of Capt. Ernie Portuondo
as the new executive director. Portuondo takes the reins from Capt. Marty Locke
who successfully drove the event for four seasons before recently relocating to
Texas. As the tournament enters its 14th season, Portuondo has his sights set
on increasing the overall tournament purse as well as increasing the tournament’s
contributions to their charity-driven beneficiaries.
 This
year’s tournament fielded 56 of the region’s finest fishing teams,
each searching not only for the tournament’s top cash prizes but also the
fame and notoriety that goes along with a prestigious victory against a field
of tough, seasoned competitors. To back up this point, 50 of the registered teams
scored at least one sailfish release during the two-day event. Just take a look
at some of the teams who have won this event in the past (and who were also in
this year’s field): Uptight, L&H, Chopper/Complete Angler, Get Lit,
Contender One…and the list goes on. It would take both an extremely talented
team as well as a healthy pinch of luck to make it to the winner’s circle.
While all eyes were on the Wound Up, winner of three south Florida tournaments
to date, it would be the team aboard the Qualifier that would sneak in under the
radar to steal the glory on this weekend. With a super-steady performance, the
team released seven sailfish on Day One, then backed up that feat with another
seven on Day Two to finish the tournament with 14 releases and 2800 points, good
enough for not only the win but the top event prize of $15,000. The team also
netted an additional $22,000 and change for their participation in the optional
categories.
 While
they finished just two releases behind the Qualifier, the team aboard the Owl’s
Nest also had a great weekend during the Capt. Bob Lewis, releasing 12 sails and
banking over $100,000 with their participation in the optional categories in which
the winning team elected not to pursue. The Game Time, Sandman and 4 Aces rounded
out the top five, respectively, in the tournament with 11 releases each.
Fishing aboard the Hook, Bob Christoph, Jr. was the tournament’s Top
Angler with six releases—he will have the opportunity to represent the Capt.
Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge during this year’s World Billfish Series Grand
Championships in Costa Rica, to be held Dec. 5-8, 2007.
With a new tournament director and a plan for expanded growth by opening up
the tournament to the public for the first time, this should be one event that’s
on everyone’s calendar in 2008.
Check out the Complete 2007 Tournament Results.
NMFS Mandates Use of Circle Hooks in Atlantic Billfish Tournaments
Effective January 1, 2007, a new Federal regulation requires anglers fishing
from HMS permitted vessels (and vessels that should be permitted) to use “only”
non-offset circle hooks when deploying natural baits or natural bait/artificial
lure combinations in Atlantic billfish tournaments. This regulation allows the
use of “J”-hooks with artificial lures in tournaments. There are no
recreation circle hook requirements outside of billfish tournaments.
|
