VBBT is a wrap
Sometimes one is good enough.
The crew on the Virginia Beach-based Cuttin' Up caught a 612.5-pound blue marlin on the first day of the 19th annual Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament and held on to win the event after Saturday's final day of competition.
It was the only fish the team caught during its two allotted days of angling.
The fish, caught by Josh Bowen, took a little less than two hours to arrive on the deck.
The team won an overall cash prize of $281,400 for the effort. Captained by Nick Jones, the team won several entry divisions to finish on top of the 84-boat fleet battling for a $813,000 total purse.
Sea Toy, captained by Bull Tolson, was second and took home $113,400; followed by: Weldors Ark ($79,800), Quick Sweep ($159,000), and Mister Pete ($32,400).
Wave Runner released one blue marlin and finished 10th, but won an entry category and took home $29,400.
Billfishing was difficult during the event - with a total of 55 (16 blue marlin, 12 sailfish and 27 white marlin) caught. All but two blues were released.
The gamefishing division didn't have it much better, with only 13 (5 dolphin, 5, wahoo and 3 yellowfin) caught.
Rob Johnson on the Seafix won the dolphin division with an 18.9-pounder; Alex Strangways on the Fender Bender had the top tuna with a 61.2-pound yellowfin, and Jeff Hunter on Fly'n Fish caught the biggest wahoo at 58.6 pounds. Each angler won $14,000.
Bowen's fish earned him the top overall angler award and a trophy; Amanda Cofer on the Sea Toy was the top lady angler for her two billfish, and Connor O'Day on the Courtney Beth was the top junior angler.
