North Carolina Fishing Reports

LIQUIDFIRE · 2nd Mate Joined: Apr 25, 2008 Posts: 30

( FRONT PAGE OF THE SOUTHERN KINGFISH ASSOCIATION WEBSITE, www.fishska.com - 5/6/08 )

MAD MOUSE LEADS A TRIO OF 50’S
Wins Frances Langford Tournament in Jensen Beach, Florida!

by Jack Holmes

Jensen Beach, Florida– Rob Ferris and Carl Carson scaled the biggest king, a 51.52, on day two of the Francis Langford Memorial Tournament in Jensen Beach, Florida and won S4,000 in cash, a 75 hp Yamaha Outboard valued at over $10,000, and a $7,500 Contender certificate.

Ferris, a general contractor from North Carolina, weighed a 33 pounder on the first day of the event but knew that would not win the event. On day two the duo ran straight offshore 12 miles and deployed their baits. “It didn’t take long,” said an excited Ferris. “We were trolling in 60 feet of water when a blue runner drug off the short line got smacked. I grabbed the rod and by 8:30 she was in the bag.” The team fished for the balance of the morning catching only one other smaller fish, then headed for Four Fish Marina, the tournament site, to wait till the scales opened at three. Rob and Carl fish a Mercury powered Sea Craft. There were Sea Craft and Mercury executives on hand to congratulate them on their impressive victory.

Another North Carolina Contractor scaled a 50.79 to earn second place. Past National Champion Forrest Taylor, William Taylor, and Richard McRae, fishing the Mercury powered Yellowfin, That’s My Dog, ran 32 miles south to Lake Worth both days of the event. “We only caught a 29 on day one but decided that everything looked right for a big fish so we went right back on day two,” said the excited Captain, Forrest Taylor. “It was an area we fished last year. We were fishing in 70 feet of water, a little shallower than the previous day. We had caught a couple of smaller fish, and then just after noon a ribbonfish we had brought from home got hit. Richard grabbed the rod and skillfully brought her to my waiting gaff.” They picked up $2,500 in cash and an $8,000 Yamaha Outboard plus a Contender certificate.

The winner of the Yamaha Professional Kingfish Tour, held in conjunction with the Langford tournament, picked up third with a 50.56, also caught on the second day. Mark Henderson, Chris Waters, and Joshua and Crockett Henderson, fishing the 23’ Sea Craft Liquid Fire, fished just 16 miles south of the tournament site. “The water color, temperature and bait all looked so good we stayed right where we caught our 39 the day before,” said Mark after scaling the largest fish his team has ever caught. “The king ate a blue runner off the long line. Joshua fought the fish, and I gaffed her. She came in the boat at 2 o’clock. I picked up my cell phone and called Rob Ferris to tell him that we had a slab and were coming to the scale.”
The team won $2,800 plus a 20 hp Yamaha Outboard worth $3,700 and were also first place in the Class of 23. Crockett was the events Top Junior Angler and the $500 Mercury Scholarship Winner.

Fourth place fell to Alden Thornton’s A Team with a 47.25. Alden, his wife Alison who caught the fish, Chad Barnes, and David Pennington fished the 38-foot Mercury powered Fountain. “Canaveral to the north was our destination, 90 miles to be exact,” said Thornton. “Alison caught her using a ribbonfish trolled 83 feet down.” She was the event’s Top Lady Angler.
Andrew Hinton’s Hot Grits team picked up fifth place. Hinton, David Stallings, Ned Grady, and Ward Whitfield caught their biggest king, a 44.34, on day one fishing 25 miles south. “She hit a goggle eye off a medium trolled line at 1 o’clock,” said Hinton. “We were fishing in just over a hundred feet of water in an area Ron Mitchell told us about.” Hinton still holds the North Carolina SKA state kingfish record of 66.55 pounds.
You will note that the first five teams in the standings came from North Carolina. Thornton is from North Carolina but has moved to Florida and is the representative for Fountain boats.

The first Florida team to show up in the standings came from Jack Penny fishing the sponsored PROMARINEUSA.COM / Penny Wise Contender. Jack, Jeff Silverthorne, Mike Penny, Stanley Asensio, and Stephen Cooper, ran 48 miles to the north and fished the Bethel shoals area. “We caught her on the downrigger 26 feet below the surface using a goggle eye,” said Penny. “Our team mate, David Albritton on the Gatorfan told us this was the spot.”

Carl Carder, Paul Paulk, and Robert Cloer, fishing the Yamaha powered Contender, “C” Crazy, picked up seventh with a 42.09 fishing the Juno Ledge 26 miles south of the tournament site. “Ours came from 118 feet of water off a long lined blue fish,” explained Carder. “Paul got her to the boat and Allen got her in the boat. A real team effort.” Paul Paulk was the events Top Senior Angler.

Harpoon was eighth. Joseph Brown, Dr. Greg Chapman, Sean Brown, and Greg Chapman, weighed a 42.06 fishing a Mercury powered Fountain.
Also fishing a Fountain was James, Vicki, Dennis, and Patricia McLaughlin who finished 9th with their 40.68 while our past National Champion Tom Kenny rounded out the top ten on the Offshore Warrior with a 40.68.
We must also mention Peter and Robert Weisburg and Eric Neidorf who finished 11th on the Strictly Fishing with a nice 40.45. They were also second place in Class of 23.

What a great event! Three 50’s and eight 40’s made up the top 11 places. While the seas were rough, the fishing turned out to be superb.
Many thanks to the Four Fish Marina, the Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Treasure Coast Sports Council, Yamaha Outboards, and all the other sponsors who made this event possible. And a special thank you to the Scharfschwerdt family and friends for their dedication to making this event so popular.

rodhog · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 7:25 am Post subject:

Congrats Mark & Team Liquid Fire !!! I was going to call you and let you know I had heard you had started 08 with a Bang. Hang on to that rabbits foot tight...


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