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The Islamorada Fishing Club presented the third annual RedGhost Stalk,
an all-release backcountry fishing tournament July 26 for Junior
Anglers (ages 10-16) and Young Adults (ages 17-25). Targeted species
were redfish and bonefish.
Thirty-eight young anglers on 36 boats caught and released 26 bonefish
and 133 redfish, all being over 20 inches long to count points.
Additionally, the young anglers caught over 50 snook. It is estimated
that over 100 more redfish were caught that did not make the 20-inch
requirement.
Redfish counted 100 points and bonefish counted 300 points with each
SLAM - redfish/bonefish combo caught by an angler earning a bonus 400
points. There were 20 slams posted.
Within the Junior Division, Nick Cardella guided by Capt Larry Sydnor,
both from Broward County, was the grand champion catching 21 redfish
with 12 being on fly. The first runner up was 14-year-old Jared
Raskob, being guided by his 15-year-old friend, Spence Holeman, both
from Key Largo. Raskob caught 11 redfish and a bonefish.
Both Cardella and Raskob earned invitations to the 2005 Mercury/IGFA
Junior World Championships and will be representing the Islamorada
Fishing Club.
Second runner up was Richard Black guided by Capt. Dave Borras. This
team from Tavernier scored with one bonefish and six redfish.
Finishing as the third runner up was Dylan Moeller from Islamorada,
guided by his father Capt. Rick Moeller. Moeller caught one bonefish
and three redfish.
The Young Adult grand champion, Chris Gutierrez from Cooper City, FL.
was guided by Islamorada resident, Capt. Steve Thomas. Catching five
redfish and five bonefish in one day earned Gutierrez 4,000 points and
an invitation to the 2005 Rolex/IGFA Inshore Fishing Championship.
Finishing as the first runner up, just 100 points behind the Grand
Champion was Alan Cockerham, guided by Capt. Mark Gilman, both from
Islamorada. Cockerham caught four bonefish all being in the 10-12
pound range and 11 redfish.
Second runner up was Corey Shulman guided by Capt. Rich Tudor. This
Islamorada team posted three bonefish and three redfish. The Young
Adult third runner up was Key Largo resident Jesse LeBoeuf guided by
Capt. Chuck Schafstall of Islamorada. LeBoeuf caught 20 redfish with
his last fish being at 1:00 p.m., which broke a tie with Brooke
Denkert, the RedGhost Young Adult Champion for the past two years.
Three additional anglers earned sportsmanship awards. Aubrey Cutchins
for almost filling up his Dad's boat with trash they picked up off the
water, Spence Holeman for poling his friend to a first runner up
position, and Alia Huffman for catching her first two bonefish while
guided by Capt. Bruce Stagg.