June 3-8, Islamorada, Florida
The 27th all-release Don Hawley Tarpon tournament saw 23 anglers release a total of 64 fish in a spectacular five days of fishing in Islamorada. This year’s Grand Champion was John Tebbets, guided by Capt. Rob Fordyce, with 11 releases. The 12-pound tippet championship went to Wilson Langworthy and his guide Capt. Tony Traad for their seven releases. Second place in the 12-pound division went to Tim Mahaffey with six fish, while third went to Tom Siska with five releases.
Guided by Capt. Mitch Milchman, angler Walter Ungermann took top honors in the 16-pound tippet division with three releases. Ungermann beat angler Jimmy LeMert on time. The top team in the event went to the Poon Busters with member anglers Frank Delucas, Wilson Langworthy, Jimmy Lemert and John Tebbetts.
Best new angler honors went to Tim Mahaffey, while John Kazanjian took best “other fish” with a 26-inch snook on 12-pound tippet.
