The new Professional Tarpon Tournament Series (PTTS), sponsored by Century and Cobia Boats, successfully concluded its first year with the Jim Beam Tarpon Cup championship tournament in Boca Grande Pass, Fla., June 6. The tournament series, which included five regular season qualifying events and the championship event, was deemed a big success by anglers and sponsors.
Throughout the tournament series anglers had to deal with weather fronts, aggressive sharks and the chaos of boats and anglers that is typical in Boca Grande Pass. In spite of these conditions, a record number of tarpon were caught and released, and the level of sportsmanship and cooperation among the anglers was also impressive.
“We’re very pleased with every aspect of this new tournament series,” says Dean Burnett, vice president and general manager of Century and Cobia Boats. “The anglers really support the live-release format, and we were able to attract a full field of competitive fishing teams for each event.”
“We believe that the PTTS will grow to be one of Florida’s premier tarpon fishing events. This is a great venue for Century and Cobia Boats and we’re proud to announce that we will again be the title sponsor in 2005.”
The qualifying events were limited to three hours of fishing, and the field was limited to 50 four-person teams including the captain. The championship tournament was a five-hour event that featured the top 25 teams, based on points. Points were awarded for place standings, weight of fish weighed, released fish and tournament participation.
Final team standings were announced after the championship event and Team Century with Capt. Jeff Hagaman from Odessa, Fla., won top honors with 1,194 points.
Rounding out the top five team standings were:
– Team Ranger with Capt. Mike Witfoth, Tampa, Fla., with 918 points
– Team Columbia with Capt. Ozzie Fischer, Captiva, Fla., with 801 points
– Team Paradise with Capt. Bobby Holcomb, Pt. Charlotte, Fla., with 743 points
– Team Captiva with Capt. Jimmy Burnsed, Captiva, Fla., with 521 points
Armchair anglers can catch all the excitement and highlights of the qualifying tournaments and the championship this summer on the Sunshine Network. The PTTS is being broadcast as a one-hour, 13-week television series.
Century and Cobia boats are designed to meet any need or budget, from affordable family fishing boats to serious offshore fishing boats. Both brands include bay boats, center consoles and walk around fishing boats in lengths ranging from 17′ to 31′.
By: Walker Agency
