BWC leg 1
The first leg of the 2011-2012 Bahamas Wahoo Championship was fished under ideal wahoo-catching conditions – cool weather and high winds. Neither of these two factors deterred the tournament participants and they were rewarded with an abundance of wahoo bites and catches.
Former Bahamas Wahoo Championship overall winner Marshall Leeds fished his beautiful sport fish boat Svengali and in the true spirit of a proven wahoo angler led the field from start to finish. Ably captained by Captain Rick Redecker, who is assisted by Mike Ritzler in the cockpit, Svengali grabbed the lead on the first day and never relinquished it. The top six wahoo on Svengali weighed 209.6 pounds for an average of 34.9 pounds per fish. The top five wahoo which won the event (you can drop the smallest fish) weighed 35.9 pounds.
Llangus, the Freeport, Bahamas, based entry was led by Dan Riggs, from Pittsburgh. Dan is another former Bahamas Wahoo Championship overall winner. The 42′ Riviera is captained by the legendary Bahamian wahoo catcher Captain Kurt. However, due to mechanical difficulties this was not to be their tournament. On day one Llangus blew a head gasket and after securing a replacement boat, that vessel also had mechanical difficulties. Even with these adverse happenings, team Llangus qualified two wahoo on day one and one wahoo on day two.
The official Heaviest Wahoo winner was a 42.9-pound fish caught by Svengali.
The second leg of the 2011-2012 Championship will return to Old Bahama Bay February 1st to 4th, 2012.
For all results and photos, please visit: www.internationaltournaments.net