Dawn Hunt of Sebring, Fla., caught a 24-pound dolphin to win top individual honors in the Conch Republic Ladies Dolphin Championship July 3.
Hunt fished on Ramerezi, captained by Steve Magee of Key West. Her teammates, all current or former International Game Fish Association record holders, were Linda Luizza and Doris Harris of Key West and Sue Cocking of Hollywood, Fla.
“It was a slow morning, and then all of a sudden we had some action,” said Hunt, who reported catching what she called her “beautiful big dolphin” in about 400 feet of water using ballyhoo as bait.
The Ramerezi team earned the tournament’s boat championship for the largest combined weight of two dolphin with 26.6 pounds.
Second-place individual honors went to Mary Mitchell of Clover, S.C., a tournament veteran who won the 2007 challenge. Mitchell fished on Demolicious skippered by Captain Will Simmons.
Key West angler Brandi Bishop took third place, fishing on Captain Brent Bishop’s Team Captain Morgan.
Team Captain Morgan took the second-place boat prize.
The tournament drew 105 participants fishing on 21 boats.By: Andy Newman/Carol Shaughnessy
