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Inaugural FishStock tourney a success

Anglers reeled in fish and prizes in the first of the year's FishStock events, which took place Memorial weekend in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The next event takes place in Panama City.

Seventy-four of 101 boats brought qualifying fishto the docks during a five-hour weigh-in at FishStock’s GreaterDaytona/New Smyrna Beach Striker Tournament during Memorial Dayweekend. When the smoke cleared, Capt. Scott Laney of Daytona ledTeam Cookie Cutter to the Raymarine Overall Points title, SimradBig Boat Overall Points title, Wellcraft, Aquasport, Hydra-SportsTop Boat Award and C-Map Heaviest Bottom Slam. The team’s anglersinclude Scott Housel of DeBary, Randall Ward of Ormond Beach, andJason and Pat Crowley of Lexington, Kentucky. Housel took fifthplace in the dolphin category (39 pounds), and second and fifthplaces in the red snapper division (22.7 and 19.8 pounds). Inaddition, Ward and Jason Crowley took third and fourth placesrespectively in the amberjack division (34.1 and 32pounds).

In the dolphin division, Bull Headed ‘sDon Stafford of Tavares won with a 47.3-pounder. The big bull, oneof 15 the team caught during the tournament, swam almost all theway to the boat before taking the bait. Stafford was reeling in thedownrigger bait; two other anglers also fought dolphin when thefish hit. A wahoo also surfaced with the dolphin, but wouldn’tbite.

Other divisional winners included: DanHendrickson aboard First Priority with a 30.3-pound wahoo;Bill Ahrens, Absolut II, 34.3-pound amberjack; Chad Wren,First Strike, 52.5-pound yellowfin tuna; Chris Rossi,First Priority , 23.7-pound kingfish; David Register,Fishinator, 52.4-pound grouper; Buck Chamber, Catch 22II, 24.9-pound red snapper. The Suzuki Top Young Angler awardwent to 12 year-old Matt Mattmiller aboard Sea Lover for his45.3-pound dolphin. Michele Taylor caught a 42.3-pound tuna aboard_X Stream_ to capture the Boston Whaler Top LadyAngler.

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In the Yamaha Billfish Release category, anglerEric Lund aboard Ramblin Rose grabbed the win based on timewith one release. Gary Waldrop on C-Duck and Alicia Dvorakon Dream Catcher took second and third places. Chris Rossiand team First Priority took the Bombardier-Evinrude SmallBoat Overall Points Award.

In the FishStock Mercury Outboard BackwaterTournament, Who’s Yo Daddy , led by angler Pete Ferrentino,beat out the competition for the Trojan Batteries Top Boat Award.Ferrentino took third in the Sheepshead Division, second inFlounder and first in Mangrove Snapper.

Both events were hosted by FFSW magazineas a part of its FishStock festival series. The four-stop tour nextmoves on to Panama City, Florida and Biloxi Mississippi.

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For more information and for tournamentregistration, visit the FishStock Web site .

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