The first tournament was record setting for Capt. Kenny Hyatt and Team Century/FishHog, as the team scored another victory with a Boca Grande Pass record 216-pound tarpon.

“This was an emotional day for all of our team members,” says Capt. Kenny Hyatt. “As most local anglers can attest, Boca Grande Pass has some of the most productive fishing waters in the country,” Hyatt continued.

Team Century/FishHog, winners of the first qualifying tournament on May 21, now have two first place finishes and approximately $50,000 worth in prizes, including two Century 1902 Bay Boats each powered by a Yamaha F115 engine and two Continental aluminum trailers.

According to Joe Mercurio, Vice President of Operations for the Professional Tarpon Tournament Series, the organization is still trying to determine if Team Century’s tarpon is the largest of its kind caught during a professional Tarpon tournament. Mercurio added that the catch did eclipse the Boca Grande Pass tournament record by approximately eight pounds.

In a surprise finish in tournament three, recreational angler Capt. Perry Mapes of Team Perry Dise successfully caught, weighed and released a 172-pound tarpon. “Both tournaments had great finishes, and I believe we will continue to see parity among our tournament teams during the final two qualifying events,” says Mercurio.

In total over 3,000 lbs. of Tarpon reached the PTTS weigh scale with anglers hooking over 110 fish and releasing over 35 fish in both events.

The Yamaha Team of the Year Race is heating up with the top 5 teams separated by less than 200 points. The Yamaha Team of the Year will receive a new Four Stroke 225 HP motor with the second place finishers receiving a trip to the exclusive Crocodile Bay Lodge in Costa Rica.

Teams will once again take to the Pass this Sunday, June 5, 7am-10am for the fourth qualifying event as anglers attempt to climb into the top 25 ranking for an opportunity to fish in the Jim Beam Tarpon Cup Championship held on June 19.

Yamaha Team of the Year Race top five point leaders:

1, Century/FishHog, Capt. Kenny Hyatt, 1204 points;
2. Nextel/Century, Capt. Jeff Totten, 966 points;
3. McKee Craft, Capt. Jeff Weeks, 960 points;
4. Castrol GTX, Capt. Artie Price, 827 points, and
5. GiantTarpon.com, Capt. Robert McCue, 788 points.

Tournament Two Top 5

Century/Fish Hawg, Capt. Kenny Hyatt, 216 lbs.
Castrol GTX, Artie Price, 176 lbs.
Mckee Craft, Capt. Jeff Weeks, 165 lbs.
NEXTEL/Century, Capt. Jeff Totten, 150 lbs.
Fly By Night, Capt. Terry Winters, 148 lbs.

Tournament Three Top 5

Perry Dise, Capt. Perry Mapes, 172 lbs.
NEXTEL/Century, Capt. Jeff Totten, 166 lbs.
T.A. Mahoney Co., Capt. Dave Markett, 154 lbs.
Castrol GTX, Artie Price, 151 lbs.
Century/Fins N Tails, Capt. Troy Sapp, 150 lbs.

The Professional Tarpon Tournament Series is the largest live-release tarpon tournament held in the state of Florida. For more information, visit www.tarponanglersclub.com.