RIVIERA BEACH — When the 902 registered boats stopped fishing after the first day of the Arthur Smith Kingfish, Dolphin, Wahoo Tournament of the Palm Beaches, there was little doubt that kingfish deserved first billing in the title.
Nearly all of the boats returning to the weigh-in docks at Phill Foster Park in Riviera Beach had kingfish on board.
And they weren’t little kingfish, either. Some of them were huge.
Among the first people to return were Jack McGriff of Lake Clarke Shores and Ray Kidwell of West Palm Beach. They had, among other fish, a 46.95-pound kingfish. And even though they were in early, they felt the fish was big enough to give them a lock on the biggest-kingfish-of -the-tournament award. After all, the largest kingfish ever caught in the Arthur Smith KDW tournaments only weighed about 12 pounds more.
They already were deciding what they were going to do with the boat, motor and trailer prize they figured they had won when Nelson Justice of Hendersonville, N.C., eased up to the docks in the Carolina Lady, and asked for some help unloading a big fish. He was fishing with fellow Hendersonville anglers Sidney and Dennis Nalley and Lawrence Justice. His was the only fish the group caught that day. But it was big.
After a bit of balancing to get Justice’s fish on the scales, McGriff and Kidwell changed their plans and started worrying about how to catch an even bigger kingfish. Justice’s fish weighed 56.15 pounds.
While both of their kingfish were large, they were not isolated catches. Several kings in the 40-pound-and-up category were entered.
The most outstanding kingfish catch of the day was made by Palm Beach Gardens anglers Richard Prince, Sam Testa and Richard Haag. They were fishing from the Fish Wacker, off Lost Tree Village, with live goggleye for bait.
The five kingfish they were allowed to enter weighed a total of 149 pounds.
They had caught fish weighing 15.80 pounds, 18.35 pounds, 31.90 pounds, 37.90 pounds and 45.05 pounds.
Dolphin were not nearly as plentiful as kingfish Thursday. Only a few of the dolphin entered weighed more than 20 pounds. Most weighed closer to 10 pounds, except for two outstanding catches.
Alan Schubel of Tampa, was trolling about 17 miles offshore when he boated a 39.50-pound dolphin. That fish held up as the largest dolphin for most of the afternoon, until a call came from the docks at Cannon Sport Club in Palm Beach Shores (the weigh-in location for boats longer than 28 feet). Schubel’s prize had been snatched away by Aris Pascal of San Mateo.
Pascal had been fishing aboard the Oceanis and had caught a 52.8-pound dolphin.
The largest wahoo was also weighed in at Cannon Sport Club.
Charles Isiminger, of West Palm Beach, was fishing north of the Palm Beach Inlet when he caught a 36.1-pound fish. Isiminger said the big fish hit an orange-and-black Terminator trolling lure.
Fishing continues 8 a.m to 3:30 p.m. today. Weigh-ins will begin at 2 p.m.
Awards will be presented Saturday morning, beginning at 11 a.m.
The scheduled fish-fry has been cancelled. Ticket holders will be given a refund.
Top 10 after first day with boat, hometown and pounds caught.
1. Pusskit, Buddy Davis, Charlotte, N.C., 134.10; 2. Spice of Life, Dave Snider, Jupiter, 124.31; 3. Prime Time, Kurt Sebbon, Dania, 112.00; 4. Catherine J, Doug Agee, Winston-Salem, N.C., 94.70; 5. Fin Trepid, Dieter Cardwell, Winston-Salem, N.C., 93.05; 6. Reflex, Robert Pelski, Wellington, 91.45; 7. On Edge, Tim Egerton, Singer Island, 90.70; 8. First Down, Tom Crytzer, Lake Worth, 82.70; 9. Wet Ass, Sonny Cocsis, Tampa, 79.05; 10. Family Affair, Robert Fry, Plantation, 77.95.
