The Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament was an exciting event with lots of fish caught and money won. But the hearts of the anglers was stolen by a young man.
The audience cheered enthusiastically as each team was announced.
But during the awards ceremony for the 23rd annual Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament, it might have been a young man who drew the loudest applause.
Bruce Ash - an angler on the Oregon Inlet-based Strokin’, with Capt. Jordy Crowait - didn’t win any money or catch a lot of fish.
He got a trophy for being the Top Junior Angler for his white marlin release.
Ash is 12.
The appreciation he received made everything pale in comparison.
He likely wasn’t as proud as his teammate, but his award fit right in with all the excitement of Saturday night’s awards ceremony.
After three days of competition, the 61-team field competed for a tournament record total payout of $943,550.
Teams had caught a total of 160 billfish - 18 blue marlin, 112 sailfish and 30 white marlin. All billfish were released.
Teams registered 16 gamefish - five dolphin, three wahoo and eight yellowfin tuna.
After everybody posed for pictures and took deep breaths, it was Virginia Beach boat Sarah Jean with Capt. Kurt Ward that had captured the title and $500,599 on a blue and nine sails good enough for 830 points.
Second with 740 points and earning $122,100 was the Hatteras, N.C., entry Kimberly Dawn captained by George Powell.
The team was followed by The General, captained by Max Weaver, out of Morehead City, N.C., with winnings of $85,400; Oregon Inlet’s Bi-Op-Sea, captained by Jesse Grantizki; Geddy Up of Charleston, S.C., captained by Wade Fehig; and Virginia Beach’s Freestyle captained by Kenny Sexton.
Despite not placing in the top five, Morehead City’s On Time won $76,050, and Cheryl Anne of Virginia Beach took home $62,100.
Joining Ash in individual winners was the tournament’s overall top angler, George Powell Jr. with four billfish; and Shelley Summerville on Outnumbered out of Wrightsville Beach, N.C., and captained by James Breen.
John Roberts of the Dale Britt-captained Welder’s Ark had the top dolphin with a 35.4-pounder; Robert Whelan on the Colin Oxnard-captained Fender Bender scored the top yellowfin tuna with a 65.9-pounder; and Randy Abbitt had the top wahoo with a 54.5-pounder caught on Saga.
But with all the hoopla and celebrating, it was a thankful 12-year-old that stole the show.
