A Special win in billfish

By SUSAN COCKING
Herald Outdoors Writer

Sunday was a novice's day to shine in the final round of competition in the Capt. Bob Lewis Boat Center-Yamaha Billfish Challenge at the Miami Beach Marina. The top boat, Special Edition, totaled four sailfish releases Saturday and Sunday, guided by amateur captain Bob Chang.  The party boat Reward hosted the runner-up team of four bottom fishermen, who managed to release three sails and catch the tournament's largest kingfish.

The top angler, Steve Lennon of Fort Myers, was used to catching sailfish by trolling dead bally hoo. But Lennon got his three sails aboard Filla Magilla using live bait.

Said the tournament's top captain, Wayne Conn of the Reward: ``This says the fish don't care what kind of boat you're on. You put out good, fresh live baits and you're on the same rip as everyone else, you're going to get the shots.''

Chang, 32, was fishing his new 31-foot Contender in a tournament for the first time. The Miami architect had not even gotten around to naming his boat, but he had to put something down on the entry form. Since the boat was a special edition for Contender, that became its name.

Chang got one of his team's four sails; Sergio Villegas got the other three. They drifted live goggle eyes off kites in 150 feet of water off Triumph Reef on Sunday.

``It feels good,'' Chang said of the victory and its $7,500 prize.

The second- through sixth-place boats each released three sailfish over the two days, but Reward won on time.

Ed Villegas got two sails Saturday. Teammate Adam ``Spanky'' Cohen, 12, added the third Sunday. Gabe Nassar caught the tournament's largest kingfish, a 29-pounder.

The Reward fished in 100 feet of water off Miami Beach both days using live baits on kites and flat lines. The team won $8,840, which included a value-added category of prize money.

``I cannot believe we are in second place,'' Conn said. ``I am a happy guy.''

Filla Magilla, the third-place boat, was skippered by Greg Dunn of the South Florida Fishing Club. The team fished in 165 to 180 feet of water off Pacific Light on Sunday, using goggle eyes on kites and flat lines. Lennon, the tournament's top angler, was not used to Dunn's fishing style.

``I wanted to drag dead bally hoo,'' Lennon said. ``But these guys know what they're doing. Kites are awesome.''

Filla Magilla won $1,500.

Imagine, owned by Rick Newhauser and skippered by Ray Rosher, won $17,290 for fourth place because of value-added prize categories.

A total of 166 anglers competed on 52 boats to raise money for youth fishing education programs for Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami, Charlee House, the Youth Fishing Foundation and the YMCA.

Yamaha Billfish Challenge (final results), Top boat: 1. Special Edition, 800 points; 2. Reward, 600; 3. Filla Magilla, 600; 4. Imagine, 600; top captain: Wayne Conn, Reward; top mate: William Johnson, Reward; top junior angler: Patrick Brown, Byte Me, 200; top female angler: Heidi Mason, L & H, 200; top male angler: Steve Lennon, Filla Magilla, 600; top club: Miami Beach Rod & Reel Club; kingfish: Gabe Nassar, Reward, 29 pounds; wahoo: Jeff Archer, Snap Bean, 34; dolphin: Peter Patterson, Sea Hunter, 33.