The inaugural Abaco Beach Invitational concluded this past weekend at the Abaco Beach Resort in the Bahamas and Sandbob, a 74 Viking run by Capt. Chris Correia, is the first-ever champion. The team released four blue marlin, two whites and four sailfish to earn 2,300 points and a payout of $147,875. Sandbob’s anglers included Sean Dunnuck, Chase Higgins, Justin Lord, Chad Moss, Juliana Van Lannew, Margo Volman and Allen Winchel. Chad Moss was named the Top Angler overall with 1,300 points to his credit.
Reel Steel, a 66 Hines-Farley, was the second-place team overall. Capt. Jason Parker and his anglers released four blue marlin, one white marlin and two sailfish, good for 1,950 points and a $19,125 payout. Rounding out the top three was Right Hook, a 58 Croswait with Capt. Austin Spitz on the flying bridge. The team tallied three blues and four whites for the event, earning 1,650 points and $25,500 in cash prizes.
The other big money winners included Cheeseburger (60 Sculley/Capt. Gabe Toepfer) and Marlin Brando (68 Viking/Capt. Cody Mitchell). Teams could enter optional jackpot categories for bigger payouts based on daily and overall catches.
The Abaco Beach Invitational is mainly a catch and release billfish contest. Blue marlin releases score 400 points, white marlin and spearfish 150 and successful sailfish releases earn 100 points each. There are weight divisions for blue and white marlin with minimum length requirements. Boats are limited to six lines/six anglers with no live bait allowed. Cheeseburger weighed a 119.8-pound white marlin, caught by Ron Ladner. Luis Ballote on Right Hook also weighed a white at 81.8 pounds. Those fish paid out $44,625 and $19,125, respectively, in optional entry jackpots.
In other individual honors Kristina Lasserre, competing aboard Kennel Up (92 Viking/Capt. Jeremy Beller) scored a slam of a blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish to earn the Top Lady Angler award.
Josh Wiley boated the winning wahoo, a 75.8-pound entry, competing aboard Lunatico (70 Titan/Capt. Cory Gillespie). Manuel Ortiz topped the dolphin leaderboard with a 44.4-pound bull. Ortiz was fishing with Capt. Zane Andrews on Time Out, a 64 Viking based in Panama City, Florida. Both game fish leaders paid $12,998.70 in prize money. There were no qualifying tuna recorded.
“What a great way to start a new tradition,” said Tournament Director Sherry Santino. “We had beautiful weather, outstanding fishing and a fun time. I’d like to thank all our teams and our host Abaco Beach Resort for the perfect venue. I’m ready to build on this success next year.”
The 28 teams competing in the first Abaco Beach Invitational released 30 blue marlin, 32 white marlin and 36 sailfish overall. Two white marlin were weighed.
The remaining slate of Skip’s Tournaments are the Shootout Production vs. Custom April 29 to May 2, the Custom Shootout May 13-16 and the In & Out Shootout, June 17-20. For more information, please visit: skipstournaments.com
