The final day of the PCBT is on the water, so warn the folks in Virginia Beach - we're all heading your way
It would be easy - but let’s face it, not very smart - to start talking about who is going to win the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament.
Well, all bets should be off.
If you’ve been paying any attention whatsoever, you’ve witnessed how the leaderboard and prize listing has bounced around like a rubber ball in a small concrete room.
As the fleet competes in today’s final day of the 43rd annual event, the only safe thing to say is that it’s still anybody’s game.
This year’s PCBT features 94 teams battling for $1.4 million.
Lines out is at 3 this afternoon, with the awards celebration and paycheck party scheduled for this evening.
But first, there the little chore of settling all this talk about who’s going to win.
After Wednesday, Doc Fees sat in the lead fighting chair with 1,600 points on one white marlin and 15 sailfish.
In second was Drifter with 1,500 points on one blue marlin and 12 sails; followed by Tarheel, with 1,400 points on two blues, one white and seven sails; Don’t Panic, with 1,300 points on one blue, one white and nine sails; and Stream Weaver, Bull Pen and Bi Op Sea, with 1,100 points each. Stream Weaver sits in fifth because of time of catch.
The potential winnings heading into today had Doc Fees looking at $421,417, Tarheel banking $174,160, Drifter eyeing $113,085, and Stream Weaver and Simple Man hoping to pocket $98,770 each. Pelican and Welder’s Ark stood to win $36,971 each.
Pelican leads the dolphin division with a 25.2-pounder, while Welder’s Ark sits on atop the tuna race with a 67.3-pound yellowfin.
No wahoo have been scored.
Do not be surprised if much or all of that changes after today.
Because the fishing has been pretty good.
In three days the fleet has caught and released 390 fish - 25 blue marlin, 31 whites, one unidentified billfish, 18 dolphin, three blackfin tuna, five yellowfin and a whopping 307 sailfish.
So there are a couple of things the rest of us can do today.
The first is to hold your breath to see who actually comes out on top. The second is to take a deep breath and get ready to head to north for the Rudee Inlet Ladies Open and the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament.
Whew!
So what’s it all mean? Easy - more to come.
