A fishing flotilla of 95 boats with their hard-working captains and knowledgeable crews got the opportunity to test their angler skills at the 25th annual Bluewater Movements Saltwater Slam off of Pompano Beach. The fishing tournament was the kickoff leg to the Pompano Beach Saltwater Circuit, which features the Saltwater Slam, Saltwater Shootout and Saltwater Showdown.
It was a welcome reprieve to the sports fishing community that is coming off the coronavirus lockdown that started last March. The competitive fires were burning as the anglers were chasing a purse of $228,740. There was $94,640 paid out in Leg 1 of the 2020 Saltwater Slam.
The Hillsboro inlet was a busy waterway at the 7 a.m. start-off point as the 95 boats headed out to sea with dollar signs in their eyes and visions of monster fish dangling off their lines. The armada of boats arrived back at the weigh-in deadline of 4:30 p.m.
The Sands Harbor Resort & Marina was the official weigh-in site along with the Afternoon Express weigh-in at Lighthouse Point Marina. The lucky anglers showed off their prize catches at dockside where the catches were tabulated. The unlucky anglers lamented about the winning catches that got away.
The Grand Champions with a total qualifying weight of 185.3 pounds was the Gator One team who earned $27,059. The group won nine divisions. Doing It All/Hardway came in second place with a weight of 164.4 pounds to capture a prize of $9,850 followed by Off The Wall with 159.4 pounds to win $3,620. Hot Suppah came in fourth place and caught the biggest fish when Kyle Sankowicz reeled in a 49.1-pound Wahoo to earn $18,610. Lenny’s Luck had a successful day on the high seas by bringing home $11,135, courtesy of a 36.7-pound kingfish catch by Alex Martinez.
Gator One boat owner Lonnie Bergeron is no stranger to the winner’s circle having won the prestigious Pompano Beach Saltwater Circuit crown three years ago. The avid bass fisherman has won plenty of tournaments over the last 30 years. He has been a recent convert to offshore competition and is passionate about the sport. Coming back to compete on the ocean after the COVID-19 layoff was its own reward.
“I never realized how much I would appreciate being back on the ocean competing with the guys,” Bergeron said. “The other fishing teams that we are going against in South Florida are the best of the best so it is very difficult to win one of these tournaments. This is a big accomplishment.”
Gator One Capt. Ryan McBride and his brother Corey are second-generation fishermen and are part of a formidable eight-person team. Teammate John Bassett Jr. had a productive day reeling in a 30-pound cobia and a 34.9-pound kingfish. Other members of the championship Gator One team were Danny Clinton, Greg Hastings, Jay Walls and Shawn Weech.
McBride last won the Saltwater crown 13 years ago and has enjoyed multiple top-five finishes. He is itching to add another crown title to the resume.
“It was a great day for us and we had pre-fished some of the spots before the tournament and had success off Boynton Beach in the morning and the Flat Tops later on to finish the job,” McBride said. “Fishing teams have gotten so much better over the years and with social media and everyone talking there aren’t too many secrets. During the downtime, I got to catch up on all the little things with mundane tasks like the fishing gear and boat details that you usually don’t have time for during tournament season. I wasn’t sitting on the dock but was out on the water preparing.”
With one leg of the Saltwater Circuit down, there are two more to go with the Saltwater Shootout in July and the Saltwater Showdown in August.
“Fishing is not easy in July because it’s so hot,” McBride said. “We’ll try to get an early jump on the morning fishing and just grind it out. Hot weather changes the whole dynamic of fishing and it’s going to be a challenge. I can perform as well as anyone under those conditions. Our goal is to keep going and go for the crown. We are sitting pretty and I like our chances.”
Gone were the festive tournament parties and wild celebrations, but all the participants were happy to be out there fishing and competing. Due to the strict social distancing regulations still in effect, the Awards Banquet at the Pompano Beach Civic Center was only open to registered anglers. The ceremony was live-streamed on Facebook for friends and family to view. The top four teams were allowed tables of 10 people where they were able to share their good fortunes with a small but supportive gathering.
Leg 2 of the 2020 Pompano Beach Saltwater Circuit will feature the upcoming Saltwater Shootout on July 16-19, followed by the Saltwater Showdown on Aug. 12-16.
Visit bit.ly/3eRvOCn.