Stuart Sailfish Club's annual Lady Angler Tournament

Last year when Frank entered me in the Lady Angler fishing tournament, I had no expectations whatsoever.  As a result of last year's finish, I wasn't going to forecast or announce any intentions for this year's tournament, but deep down, I was really hoping to better my standing from last year.

We decided it would be a good idea to have the boat on the other side of the railroad bridge so we wouldn't get stuck like last year.  Frank made arrangements to dock it overnight at the marina where the tournament headquarters was located.  We would then only have about a 10 minute ride to the inlet (which we couldn't leave any earlier than 7AM).  A very good strategy!

Capt. Pete agreed to be the mate again this year and we decided we'd leave the condo about 6AM.  That would give us plenty of time to schlep a few things to the boat, get situated and head out toward the inlet. 
Well, it was a good thing we had the boat at the marina because just as we turned off US1, we saw the blinking lights of the cross arms at the railroad track!  (We had to wait a few minutes but you can be guaranteed the arms are going to go up quicker than the bridge.)

It was also a good thing we didn't decide to use the boat ramp to put the boat in the water....everyone and their mother was there!  Craziness!

It was forecasted to be a beautiful day with calm seas and we had the "third day's a charm" attitude.  (See entry below.) 

Sunrise at the St. Lucie Inlet

We got to our starting point and began to get things set up.  We couldn't put the lines in until 8AM, but we got the other stuff (i.e. teasers) out and the rods rigged with the baits resting in the cooler.

Shortly after getting the teasers in the water, something attacked the pink one!  (There aren't any hooks in these rubber squids.  Their job is to just flop around and create a lot of splashing at the surface.)  Well, turns out it was a sailfish!  And he really liked those squid!  Unfortunately, the clock said 7:50AM.  Ten L-O-N-G minutes of waiting.  But as soon as they called "lines in", we circled back to where the sailfish was and tried to raise him again.  Something snatched at our bait, but didn't take the hook!  We tried again to get his attention, but he must have moved on to another location.  If timing had been better, that would have been the first sailfish release of the tournament!

We continued on our trolling when the teaser was hit again!  Was the sailfish back??  I donned the fighting belt and grabbed the rod!  No jumps or splashes so it wasn't a dolphin or sailfish, but it put up a good fight.  Could this be a kingfish or cobia?  Maybe a wahoo?  I reeled and reeled, bringing the fish closer to the boat.  Capt Pete reached out and plopped a damn bonita into the boat!  There went a waste of perfectly good bait!  I said to the guys, "We got our trash fish of the day out of the way." 

We resumed trolling operations looking for anything and everything that might produce some of the fish we were hoping to attract (i.e. weeds, flotsam, slicks, turtles).  We did come across many of those things, but there weren't any fish around them.  Meanwhile, Capt Pete cut a strip of the bonita and rigged it up for bait, adding a pretty skirt.  It wasn't long before we got another bite, on the bonita belly!

I jumped up, put on the fighting belt and grabbed the rod.  Again, no splashes or jumps, but a good fight.  This had to be a "good fish".  Steady reeling while keeping the pressure on and brought the fish to the boat.  Capt Pete leaned over the gunnel and brought the fish up.  There was no jumping for joy...it was another blankety-blank bonita! 

I was getting very frustrated.  Where are the right fish?  Seems like we covered a zillion miles of ocean in a zig-zag fashion and what did we have to show for it?  Nothing that qualified!  But we were determined to stick it out until the bitter end (2:30PM). 

As 2:30 started to approach, we decided to start pulling some of the baits in.  We even decided it wasn't going to be much fun to go to the awards dinner and watch other people win trophies.  And wouldn't you know, as soon as we started cleaning things up, we got a bite!  The rod zinged and whatever was hooked,  took a lot of line!  I thought to myself, "I still have a chance!  I could have something to show for our efforts today!  Maybe I could even qualify for a prize!"  I reeled and reeled and reeled for what seemed like a half an hour (but was probably only about 5 minutes).  No jumping, but a lot of pulling.  This must be a BIG fish (or a bucket)! 

Frank maneuvered the boat, Pete got the gaff and I kept reeling.  I backed up to the opposite side of the boat and Pete pulled up a HUGE jack cravalle. 

My heart sank...another trash fish or what some call "poor man's pompano".  Frank radioed our check in and that sadly we had nothing to weigh.  (And that was the same for many of the other boats, save a few.)

We certainly got an "A" for effort (preparation, presentation and patience), but unfortunately it's the fish in the box that count!  It will be interesting to see the final results and what whoppers the other ladies caught. 

I did have the best Captain (Frank) and Mate (Pete) a gal could hope for and I really appreciate all their work!  We'll give it a go again next year!