Flounder Bowl 2010
Four Hundred of the finest flounder fishermen gathered to participate in the Flounder Bowl hosted by the Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association. This event was held June 26 out of Dare Marina. A total of 97 boats entered the competition to try and win the $5,000 first place prize money. More importantly, they were competing to be crowned the flounder champions of the Chesapeake Bay for 2010.
All participants were treated to free food and drink both at the captains meeting Friday night and at the weigh in on Saturday. This is a sponsor driven event where donations from many businesses allow for this tournament to have low entry fees and high payouts. The many donated prizes allow everybody in the tournament a chance to be a winner. Door prize tickets were included in each team’s package.
Forty-five of the sponsors entered boats into the tournament and in the Sponsors Challenge Division. These boats competed in the regular tournament and also for the Sponsors Trophy that the winning business will display for the next year.
Tournament winners were determined by the combined weight of the team’s three largest fish. There was an optional Big Fish Calcutta which fifty-five boats chose to enter. The team with the single largest fish won the entire pot. There were also awards for the largest flounder caught by a youth and by a lady. All teams not finishing in the top six places were entered into a “lucky dog” drawing for a $500 prize.
Both the weather and the flounder cooperated for a fantastic day of flounder fishing. Flatfish were caught from buoy 42, the Cell, 36A, the Hump, Back River Reef, Cape Henry Wreck and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Anglers fishing the buoy 42/Cell area had a slow day. That area was where the winning fish were caught in the 2009 tournament. This year, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel was the place to be. Almost all of the large flounder caught came from between the 4th island and the high rise section. The one exception was a flatfish, over 8 pounds which Skid Joyner, caught at Back River Reef. Live bait, mostly spot, produced most of the large fish.
This year’s Bay Champion is Brian Hogge and his “Hogchoker” team. Their 3-fish stringer weight was a very impressive, 26.03 pounds. They earned a check for $5,000. They won the championship cup and they also won the sponsors challenge trophy for their sponsor, Grafton Fishing Supply.
Second place was won by the team captained by Donald Bowers. They weighed in 24.20 pounds of flounder. They received a check for $1,500.
The third place team was the “Hell Bent” captained by Rudy Levasseur. They weighed 23.72 pounds. Their largest fish weighed 10.84 pounds and it won the Big Fish Calcutta. Their total winnings were $6,500.
Fourth place was won by team “Choo Choo” captained by John Perry. They weighed in 21.39 pounds. They received a check for $500.
The fifth place team was “Turkey Man”. This team, captained by Benji Lineberry, weighed 17.82 pounds of flounder. They won $250.
Finishing out the top six was team “Salt Lick” captained by Mark McIlwean. They weighed a stringer of 17.16 pounds.
The Youth winner was Fisher Dedmon who was fishing on the Bull Island Express sponsored by Bishop Fishing Supply. He won $100 and a prize donated by West Marine.
The Lady winner was Hilary Polk fishing on a boat sponsored by TPMG Internal Medicine. She won $100 and a pair of sunglasses donated by Costa.
This year’s “Lucky Dog” is Jason Wright of team “Summer Hunt’n” He received a check for $500.
Total payout was $14,700 plus merchandise donated by the many wonderful sponsors. The businesses supporting this tournament make this event possible. The one prize that was raffled was a flounder artwork donated by Mountain Breeze Taxidermy. David Brabrand won that prize. All of the other donated merchandise was given out via door prize tickets included with team registration.
Gold Sponsors: Thomas E. Wilson Insurance Agency, Garnett Construction, LLC, Just Plumbing, Douglas Aquatics, Pomoco Auto Group, Dare Marina & Yacht Sales, Multi-Print Inc, T. Randle Blanchard MD, York River Electric Inc., Comfort Technology Heating & Air Conditioning, Ayers Marine Electronics, Seaford Scallop Company, Michael Surveying & Mapping PC.
Sponsors: Rudees Inlet Station Marina, Bishop Fishing Supply, Sinkerman’s Wholesale Sinkers & Lures, Charlie’s Auto Repair, Dock 2 Sea, Cinco De Mayo, Coastal Services, Auto Haus, Norm’s Taxidermy, The Pizza Shop, Amory Funeral Home, Beachcomber Restaurant, Yorktown Pub, Bay Propeller, Aero Colours Auto Body & Paint, The Fisherman Magazine, Dr. K. E. Neill, Relentless Charters, York River Feed & Fishing Supply, ASI Security, Grass Roots of Virginia LLC, Wayne Harbin Builders, Sea Tow Lower Chesapeake, Zero’s Subs, Williams Facility Services, Casey Cycle City, Sheeran Sothebys International Reality, Drucker & Falk Real Estate, Tidwater Properties, Grafton Fishing Supply, Wallace’s Bait and Tackle, Back River Outfitters, Paige II Charters, Wilcox Bait & Tackle, Boat US, Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association, Mountain Breeze Taxidermy, J Henry Holland Corporation, American Chemical Concepts, Parker Piano Outlet, Coca Cola Enterprises, Cactus Restaurant, McPherson’s Garage, Tidewater Family Dentistry, Pembroke Stone Mart, Parks Orthodontics, Costa Sunglasses, K D Price Contracting, Atlantic Landscapes & Irrigation, Lila Nicolls Inc, TPMG Internal Medicine, Troy Marine, Southern Plumbing & Heating Supply, Bill’s Seafood House, True Value Hardware, Green Top Sporting Goods, Bass Pro Shops, West Marine, Trident Marine Electronics, Oyster Cove Boatworks & Yacht Brokerage, Sage Custom Contracting Inc, Pop’s Drive In, Castaway’s, Greg’s Bait Shack, Mercury Mulch Inc.